Madrid launches bid for 2020 Olympics with bizarre logo that says 20020
The logo was designed by Luis Peiret, 22, a graphic arts student from Zaragoza and chosen in a competition by the Spanish Olympic Committee. Photo: AP
MADRID launched its bid to host the Olympic Games in 2020 on Monday unveiling a logo that immediately sparked controversy and left many Spaniards confused.
The design purportedly consists of the letter M for Madrid and the number 20 in front of the coloured rings of the Olympics stylised into arches inspired by the Madrid landmark, Puerta de Alcala.
But the lettering appears to show "20020", an effect that has brought much derision in the Spanish press and on social networking sites.
Within hours of the logo being unveiled the subject was trending in Spain on Twitter with the majority of views expressed of the negative variety.
One twitter user said it looked "like a display of flip-flops for the beach" another said it resembled a "colourful array of Bishops' mitres".
But most questioned whether Madrid was bidding for the "2020" Olympic Games or the "20020".
"To me it is confusing and naff," tweeted Pedro J Ramirez, the editor of El Mundo newspaper.
The logo was designed by Luis Peiret, 22, a graphic arts student from Zaragoza and chosen in a competition by the Spanish Olympic Committee.
Reports said he had intended the script to say M20 but when officials modified the logo they trimmed the bottom of the design leading to the visual confusion.
Bizarrely even the colours used to represent the Olympic Rings were not faithful to the original with pink being chosen to replace black, the colour meant to symbolise the African continent.
A poll on the website of Spain's leading daily newspaper El Pais Monday afternoon asked readers how much they liked the new logo. 81 per cent replied: "not at all".
It will be the fourth bid for candidacy by Madrid which argues that it is the largest European capital never to have played host.
Despite the deep economic crisis engulfing Spain, support for the bid is strong with recent polls showing 84 per cent of Spaniards wanting Madrid to play host while 91 per cent think it will create new jobs.
"The Government is supporting the candidacy of the capital for the 2020 Olympics," said Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría, the country's Deputy Prime Minister.
"We want to give support to Madrid 2020 to help build the momentum behind Brand Spain and help generate trust and confidence in our country."
Other cities expected to apply on February 15 to host the 2020 Games include Tokyo, Rome, Istanbul, Baku in Azerbaijan and Doha in Qatar.
- Fiona Govan
© Telegraph.co.uk
