Iran threatens 2012 boycott over logo 01/03/2011 |
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London 2012 organisers are facing the threat of a boycott from Iran after the country's Olympic leaders complained that the logo for the Games spells out the word 'Zion' and is "racist".
Iran's National Olympic Committee has written to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) making an official complaint about the logo and threatening not to take part in the Games.
Organisers, however, have been stunned by the claims and insist there is nothing in them.
A London 2012 spokesman said: "The London 2012 logo represents the year 2012 – nothing else. It was launched in 2007 following testing and consultation – we are surprised that this complaint has been made now."
The first complaint was made by Iran's former IOC member Seyed Mostafa Hashemi Taba last month to the IOC. Zion is a term often used to refer to Jerusalem and Israel, of which Iran is a sworn enemy.
The Iran Labour News Agency this week released a letter from Mohammad Aliabadi, head of the National Olympic Committee in the Islamic republic, to IOC president Jacques Rogge claiming the logo was "racist".
The letter stated: "Unfortunately, we all are witnessing that the upcoming Olympics faces a serious challenge, definitely spawned out of some people's racist spirit.
"The use of the word Zion by the designer of Olympics logo in the emblem of the Olympics Games 2012 is a very revolting act."
Aliabadi warned that Iran's participation in the Games would be affected if the logo was not changed.
He said if Rogge did not act, the logo would "affect the participation of several countries, especially like Iran which insists on following principles and values".
The logo shows the '2012' in four jagged figures and until now has only been criticised on the grounds of general appearance.
The IOC has confirmed it has received a letter from the Iranian National Olympic Committee but has backed London's position on the logo, saying in a statement: "The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012 – nothing else."
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