The Olympics are always exciting to watch. The fact that they only happen every two years makes the anticipation worth it. Seeing the world’s greatest athletes come together and compete in different events is enthralling. Some are relatable to us and things we can do on a recreational level – volleyball, basketball, and swimming, for example. Others seem to require superhuman skill. (How do those gymnasts do it?!)
Personally, I’ve always been really interested in the different artwork associated with the Olympics, specifically the pictograms for each sport. What are pictograms? Pictograms are the stick figure icons the Olympic committee create for each event. They are used for the TV broadcast, shown at the various venues throughout the host city, on tickets, event schedules, and many other places.
My interest was really piqued when I was in college for Graphic Design. In my Iconography class, one of the projects we were assigned was to pick a host country and design a set of pictograms for each sport. We were to research the cultures, techniques, and style for that country, as well as all the different sporting events in the summer games. Our designed pictograms had to clearly depict the sport without using any text. While I don’t necessarily remember what country I chose, I remember looking at each sport and creating icons that would be translatable by sight since the audience was so diverse and native languages varied.
Paris 2024 is breaking new ground by reinventing the pictogram, creating a “badge of honour” that represents not only a discipline but also community, a sense of pride, and a set of values. These badges are waved emphatically, worn proudly, and symbolize the wearer’s belonging to their chosen athletic family. Each Paris 2024 pictogram is composed of three graphical elements: an axis of symmetry, a depiction of the ground, and a representation of the sport that it illustrates. The new look comes to life in color, with blue, red, green, and violet representing the richness and diversity of France. Art and sport are merged into one. They are full of style and elegance!
Check out this quick video highlighting the pictograms, https://youtu.be/mhsYRlQrt1o
I hope, as you watch the remainder of Paris 2024, that you are able to see how the visual art enhances the already incredible physical talent that is the Olympic Games.
