Olympic faces aflame after botched emblem reveal

Andrew Stafford |

Paralympian Grant “Scooter” Patterson and Ian Thorpe revealed the first piece of the Olympic emblem.
Paralympian Grant “Scooter” Patterson and Ian Thorpe revealed the first piece of the Olympic emblem.

You could call it a cock-up.

The official emblem of Brisbane 2032’s Olympic and Paralympic Games was accidentally leaked overnight on the event’s YouTube channel. 

It follows a staged unveiling this week around Queensland regional centres, ahead of what was planned to be the official reveal on Monday in Brisbane.

The emblem is a cockatoo’s crest but instead of the familiar sulphur-yellow, the colour is stylised to resemble an Olympic and Paralympic flame.

The explainer video was meant to go live after the ceremonial event on Monday but it was quickly taken down about 7.30pm on Friday.

By then, screenshots of images and text were already circulating on social media.

A caption stated the cheeky cockatoo crest symbolised “Australia’s unique wildlife and playful heart”.

Parts of the crest were unveiled during the week at events in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast.

Former Olympic and Paralympic legends including Ian Thorpe, Grant Patterson, Anna Meares and Alexa Leary have taken part.

Queensland Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander and a Brisbane2032 official are due to address the media on Saturday.

AAP