MPs call for rethink on 'ridiculous' 2012 logo

8:55am Saturday 9th June 2007

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MPs have signed a series of Commons motions calling for a rethink on the 2012 London Olympics logo.

Conservative MP Philip Davies described the design as "childish and ridiculous" and "a pathetic attempt to appear trendy".

However, an online petition against the logo, which was signed by 48,615 people in two days, has closed after its creator said he realised it was "here to stay".

The logo, designed by ad agency Wolff Olins, has been plagued by controversy since it was unveiled on Monday.

A section of animated footage promoting the 2012 Olympic Games had to be pulled from the organisers' website after fears it could trigger epileptic fits.

Organiser London 2012 is re-editing the film after charity Epilepsy Action received calls from people who suffered seizures after seeing it.

Liberal Democrat MP Bob Russell, who also signed the motion, said the £400,000 spent on the logo's design had been a "spectacular waste of money".

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the company that produced the film which triggered the seizures should not be paid "a penny" for its "catastrophic mistake".

But Michael Wolff, who co-founded designers Wolff Olins, which created the logo, although he is no longer with the company, said he blamed Olympic organisers for not publicising it properly.

On Wednesday, a London 2012 spokesman said ditching the design was "not an option", whatever the strength of public feeling.

Education Secretary Alan Johnson likened the logo to Tory MP Boris Johnson's hair yesterday.

The shadow minister said his hair "had yet to induce epilepsy" and cost "considerably less than £400,000 to design."

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