The organizers of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games officially unveiled the emblems of the biggest sports forum. At the center of the new visual identity is one of Australia's most recognizable birds – the cockatoo.
The Olympic emblem uses a Pink Cockatoo, while the Paralympic version is inspired by the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo. The choice is not accidental – the organizers are looking for a symbol that embodies the character of Australia and Queensland, and at the same time radiates energy, curiosity, and a dose of typical Australian audacity.

Behind the seemingly simple drawing lie several references. The cockatoo's crest is shaped like a flame – a connection to the Olympic and Paralympic fire. Its silhouette also resembles the outlines of the state of Queensland, and the bird's eye is positioned to symbolically point to Brisbane. The design also incorporates a reference to '32' – the year Australia will host the Games.
The cockatoo also has a place in the traditions of Australia's Indigenous people. The bird is perceived as a messenger, and this connection to First Nations culture is among the layers that the organizers wanted to be present in the identity of Brisbane 2032.

Interestingly, the long-prepared emblem unveiling did not go entirely according to plan. The organizers had devised a campaign where individual parts of the image would gradually be displayed in different locations in Queensland – Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Sunshine Coast, and Gold Coast. Only then was the puzzle to be assembled and the entire emblem revealed in Brisbane. However, the internet spoiled the surprise.
Three days before the planned official unveiling, a pre-prepared video "Emblem Explainer" briefly appeared on the organizers' own YouTube channel. Even worse for the secretly guarded campaign was that the finished Olympic and Paralympic emblems were visible on the video's thumbnail, and their symbolism was explained in the description.
The video was quickly taken down, but it was already too late – the images began to spread on social media. Thus, the large-scale campaign, where the logo was to be revealed piece by piece, ended prematurely due to Brisbane 2032's own YouTube channel.
The organizers decided to take the situation with a sense of humor and instead of continuing to guard the already revealed "secret," they published both emblems on social media with the message: "Consider this the official unveiling." Brisbane 2032 even admitted that the unintentional leak had generated enormous interest in the new identity.
The emblem itself was developed for over a year by a team of about 20 people and was chosen from six concepts. Among the ideas considered was a variant based on the Brisbane River, but ultimately the cockatoo was preferred as a much more recognizable symbol of Queensland and Australia.
However, the cockatoo should not be confused with the future mascot of the Games. The official mascot of Brisbane 2032 will be chosen and presented at a later stage.
Brisbane will be the third Australian city to host the Summer Olympic Games after Melbourne in 1956 and Sydney in 2000. The 2032 Games will primarily take place in Brisbane, with competitions also held on the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.

photos:theaustralian.com.au