Brisbane 2032 unveils Olympic and Paralympic Games emblems inspired by Queensland and Australia
Brisbane 2032 has unveiled its Olympic and Paralympic emblems, inspired by Queensland’s character, wildlife and identity. At their heart are two native Australian cockatoos, giving each a distinctive look and personality
Speaking about the unveiling, the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Brisbane 2032 Coordination Commission Chair, Mikaela Cojuangco Jaworski, said: “With this emblem, Brisbane and Queensland take their place in a historic line of Olympic identities stretching back over a century, representing Australia on the global stage for the third time, with Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000.
“Bringing together the nature and character of the country, this region and its people with iconic Olympic imagery, this emblem could not be better suited to carrying these Games forward.”
WHAT DO THE BRISBANE 2032 EMBLEMS REPRESENT?
At the heart of the design are two variations of the cockatoo, a bird native to Queensland and Australia and known for its playful, inquisitive character.
The pink cockatoo represents the Olympic Games, while the sulphur-crested cockatoo is used for the Paralympic Games.
Several other elements are woven into the designs. The outline of Queensland appears within the cockatoo’s crest, while the Olympic and Paralympic flames represent unity, hope and inspiration. The arrangement of three and two feathers provides a subtle reference to Australia’s home Games in 2032.
The cockatoos also carry First Nations significance, with strong connections to Country and a cultural role as messengers linking people to place, story and ceremony.
In both emblems, the cockatoo is combined with the Brisbane 2032 signature in bespoke font, while Games symbols – the Olympic rings and Paralympic Agitos and designations – allow each element to tell part of the story while reinforcing the others.
The result brings a contemporary expression of Queensland into the long tradition of Olympic and Paralympic identities, pairing local character with the enduring symbols of the Games.
Brisbane 2032 President Andrew Liveris said: “Olympic and Paralympic Games emblems are an opportunity to promote the unique character of a Games, inviting the world to learn more, visit, invest and be part of an event unlike any other."
The emblems were created by a consortium of local and global creative agencies, overseen by the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, and extensively tested in Australia and internationally.
HOW WERE THE BRISBANE 2032 EMBLEMS REVEALED?
Twelve Olympic, Paralympic and sporting greats took part in five reveals held across Queensland, from Cairns and Townsville to Rockhampton, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.
The locations of the reveals were the Great Barrier Reef, Castle Hill, Rockhampton’s Riverside Precinct, Wildhorse Mountain and Currumbin Beach.
The series of locations was designed to showcase the diversity of Queensland, with each stop adding another piece of the Brisbane 2032 identity.
The six elements then came together at a launch event, with two large-scale physical emblems revealed in Brisbane’s South Bank.
WHAT COMES NEXT FOR BRISBANE 2032?
The Olympic and Paralympic emblems will now become a central part of Brisbane 2032’s visual identity, as preparations continue towards the Games.
The designs are separate from the Brisbane 2032 mascot or mascots, which will be unveiled closer to Games time.
The Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games will take place from 23 July to 8 August, with the Paralympic Games taking place from 24 August to 5 September.
