That Olympic brand

Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said: “This is an iconic brand that sums up what London 2012 is all about – an inclusive, welcoming and diverse Games that involves the whole country.

“It takes our values to the world beyond our shores, acting both as an invitation and an inspiration.

“This is not just a marketing logo, but a symbol that will become familiar, instantly recognisable and associated with our Games in so many ways during the next five years.”

Despite this, the new logo brand for the London Olympics seems to be causing a degree of ribald hilarity. For the considered professional opinion of a graphic designer, see The Devil’s Kitchen. The Thunderdragon, Mr Eugenides and Tim Worstall are also among those on the case (though Tim is apparently confused by references to Lisa Simpson in all this).

Meanwhile, Theo Spark has put his animation skills to good use:

Update: The Telegraph isn’t too impressed, either;

Mesmerised as if confronting a nasty incident in traffic, we gaze at the Olympic logo. It is a puerile mess, an artistic flop and a commercial scandal.

though I still think Mr Spark demonstrates that a picture is worth a thousand words, at least in this case.

UPDATE 2: b3ta.com user The Coast of Yemen aka Sean Stayte, managed to get this Goatse variant onto the BBC news website. The BBC pulled the picture shortly after Boing Boing publicised his little joke, but not before it had been broadcast on national TV.

UPDATE 3: (Via Mr Eugenides)

A segment of animated footage promoting the 2012 Olympic Games has been removed from the organisers’ website after fears it could trigger epileptic fits.

Prof Graham Harding, who developed the test used to measure photo-sensitivity levels in TV material, said it should not be broadcast again.

Charity Epilepsy Action said it had received calls from people who had suffered fits after seeing it.