Ken Livingstone and the Olympic logo brand

[Gromit]

It was interesting to observe Ken 'on message' at the logo launch, then rapidly join the popularist 'we hate it' bandwagon.

Monday 4th June - after the launch

London Mayor Ken Livingstone added: "The new Olympic brand draws on what London has become - the world's most forward-looking and international city.

Thursday 7th June

London's mayor, Ken Livingstone, called it a "catastrophic mistake".

Mr Livingstone, who reportedly "hates" the graffiti-style logo, said the London-based LIVE agency, which made the film, should not be paid.

"I wouldn't pay them a penny," he said.

Your thoughts...

[sp1814]

Gromit

I dislike Ken Livingstone almost as much as I dislike broccolli (food of the devil).

However, I think in this instance, he changed his stance after it became apparent that the animated logo on the website could trigger seizures in people who suffer from photo sensitive epilepsy.

This is something he couldn't have possibly known about, until it was reported, and I think this is what he was specifically commenting on.

...the odious little toad-man.

[Gromit]

It emerged that the Olympic Committee had feared the film - featuring flashing lights and psychedelic colours - might cause seizures, and even put up warning signs at the official launch in London as a precaution.

Yet the committee, headed by Lord Coe, put the film on the 2012 website and released it to broadcasters, causing serious epileptic fits in several viewers.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles /news/news.html?in_article_id=460205&in_page_i d=1770

[sp1814]

Gromit

Hmmm...sack Seb.

And Ken.

[vehelpfulguy]

The company that designed the (awful) logo were Wolff Olins. I am not ware of any comment from Ken Livingstone about THEM.

Ken Livingstone's negative comments were about the company LIVE who did the bit of film (with the diver) which caused the seizures. He said THEY should not be paid.

Now it may be that Livingstone also hates the main logo, but is probably keeping quiet about that in the interest of solidarity with the Olympic committee.

But if anyone senior breaks rank (Blair, Brown, or some other senior politician) and really has a go at the logo then you may find Livingstone then jumps on the "get rid of it" bandwagon, but for now he is keeping quiet.

[vehelpfulguy]

and can I just say (for what it is worth)...

I HATE the logo, it is ugly, disjointed, aggresive, messy, everything the Olympic games is not.

I am usually a very easy going person, but I would happily join any protest or campaign to get rid of this disgusting excuse for a logo.

The Olympic committee have turned the vast majority of the UK poppulation against them, and made us a laughing stock worldwide.

The BBC forum last week had updates from people all over the world saying they thought it was the WORST logo they had ever seen, not just OK, or bad, but the WORST ever.

[vehelpfulguy]

And here is the BBC forum about the logo if you want to see it.

Try and play "hunt the person that likes it"

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?me ssageID=2935382&start=2925&tstart=0&&edition=1 &ttl=20070611144228

[sp1814]

Can I just point out something about the logo though...

...it doesn't really matter whether it's good or bad...it's just a logo.

At the end of the day, if it were a great logo, no-one would give the designers any praise.

I dislike the logo, but I suspect that if no-one else had raised it, I wouldn't have consciously acknowledged how much I disliked it.

[NJOK]

I hated it at first, but after seeing the animated version, I actually... er... like it. I think it's a grower.

Soz.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814 How dare you call a fellow white man an Odious Little Toad-Man.

Although I am no fan of Ken Livingstone, but I found your description of him both racist and offensive. If he had been a Black person, I doubt very much if you would have used such an insulting discription

[elderado]

Love Ken, and can not see the problem with the logo its not that bad

[sp1814]

AOG...you know what they say about sarcasm being the the lowest form of?

And 'odious toad-man' is actually quite accurate, as Mr Livingstone is a famous keeper of newts.

Ha!

[Everhelpful]

Should scrap the whole Olympic idea. Getting out of hand cost-wise. It will be into the multi-billions by 2011.

[anotheoldgit]

sp1814 actually quite accurate? I don't think so there is a world of difference between a newt and a toad. Just as there is between the birds and the bees, ask Mummy or Daddy.

http://www.britishnature.co.uk/Amphibians/Inde x.html