The National Olympic Committee of Iran sent a letter to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to protest London’s logo for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. The letter calls for a new logo design because it was racist and spells the word “Zion”, reports the ILNA news agency.
The letter was signed by Mohammad Ali Abadi, head of Iran’s Olympic Committee, and the Secretary General of Iran’s Olympic Committee, Bahram Afsharzadeh.
Channel News Asia reports the jagged, multi-coloured emblem, features four bold numerals representing 2012, with the signature Olympic Rings emblazoned within the digit zero.
Ali Abadi said the logo was undermining the event and accused British organizers of indulging in “racism”.
The letter said, “as Internet documents have proved, using the word Zion in the logo of 2012 Olympic Games is a disgracing action and against Olympics’ valuable mottos.
“There is no doubt that negligence of the issue from your side may affect the presence of some countries in the Games, especially Iran which abides by commitment to the values and principles”.
Some Muslim nations have reportedly objected to the logo as soon as it was unveiled, but their objections were rejected by the British Olympic Committee and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
But Afsharzadeh said some British individuals and organizations also protested the logo.
Organizers have reportedly defended the logo, saying it is “modern, bold, flexible” aimed at reaching out to youngsters.
