In all the column inches written about our fantastic Olympic brand since the launch the Paralympic logo and reaction seemed to have slipped by un-noticed. That is unless you occupy a desk in LOCOG when a six foot version hits you in the eye as you enter.But a few facts about the uniqueness of this event from a Paralympic perspective:
1. The production of a Paralympic brand this far out from the Games is unheard of.
2. The Paralympic brand has never, I repeat never, had the same form as the Olympic logo even though the IPC rules state that it should be recognisable as belonging to the same family.
3. The support of the IPC and the IOC and their mutual cooperation to make this work has been outstanding. There is a real sense from everyone of trying to help us meet one of our objectives, that of 'equal treatment'.
Congratulations must go to the Commerical team for the mechanics/application and to Seb and Paul for convincing the IOC and IPC leadership that this was the right approach. If any proof was needed of IPC delight at these developments then the smiles on the faces of Patrick Jarvis and Xavi Gonzalez, Paralympic members on the Coorination Commission (pictured below) are visual proof that they too - like Denis Oswald - 'love it'. And of course the bus is all over the country as I write, promoting both Games.
