So it seems that there is a character named Asterix that is quite popular in France. The character is being placed in a video game based around the the ancient Olympics. From the looks of the character it seems like a natural fit. I imagine that since the game is based in ancient times they didn't need to acquire an official license from the IOC. Looks like it could be fun but don't expect this to come stateside.
More from Go Nintendo:
Asterix and Obelix may not be very popular in North America, but they have quite a following in Europe. That’s why the team is getting yet another video game adaptation. They just so happen to be attending the Olympics as well, but in quite a different time period.
It has been announced that Asterix at the Olympic Games will be hitting Europe on November 9th, 2007. That includes the Wii and DS versions. From what I hear, the series is actually pretty good. Hopefully this title will continue that tradition.
You can find out more info HERE.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Asterix at the Olympic Games?!
Doha 2016 Reveals Olympic Bid Logo
From GamesBids.com:
The Doha 2016 Olympic bid committee has revealed its campaign logo in a gala celebration today.
Along with the logo - a green and purple representation of an aldahma flower - is the tagline "celebrating change".
The bid committee describes the logo:
The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid represents the hopes and aspirations of Qatar. The Bid is seen through the present, but also inspired by the past.
Qatar’s present is full of energy, driven by its booming economy and its highly-educated citizens. Qatar’s past is a rich heritage, deeply rooted in its people’s hearts and minds. The logo’s design represents the blossoming of these elements leading growth in Qatar.
The Aldahma – the ‘Flower of the Spring’ – was chosen to represent the vital and energetic spirit of the season. The Aldahma’s natural habitat in the sands of the desert draws a parallel with the vibrant and colourful life flourishing in the State of Qatar.
The calligraphy strokes making the words ‘Doha 2016’ are a unique manipulation of the traditional organic Henna patterns that women use to adorn their hands and arms as part of social and holiday celebrations.
The dynamic interaction between the Arabic calligraphy and the English type is an interpretation of modernity.
The logo is a welcoming message for a truly energetic and celebratory 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha.
The logo was created by students at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUQ).
The bid committee describes the tagline “Celebrating Change”:
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are among the world’s greatest celebrations. Celebration is about unity and friendship; it is about optimism and commemorating change; it is open, welcoming, fun and universally appealing; it overcomes barriers to cultures and peoples; it honours achievement.
Doha promises to host the greatest celebration the Olympic Movement has ever seen. The 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will celebrate:
- the immensely positive social, economic and political changes that the Olympic Games would bring to this entire region – and to the wider world
- the new hope that hosting the Olympic Games in Doha will bring to this region and the changes that will blossom out of that hope
- the new friendships and understandings between competitors, spectators and people that will extend far beyond the Olympic Games themselves
- a new sporting future in the Arab world for millions of Arab sportsmen and women
- the momentous changes that have already taken place in Qatar – and will continue to take place thanks to hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha in 2016.
A 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games hosted by Doha will change the world. That will indeed be a change to celebrate.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
New promo art for Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games
This game cannot come out fast enough. It's shaping up to be a real crowd pleaser. I can't wait to get my hands on a copy come Nov. 6th. I'll post my thoughts on it shortly after I get it. Until then enjoy the Olympic news and feel free to leave a comment or feedback, I'd love to hear from some of the site's visitors. Thanks!
Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Bid Unveils Website, Logo
From GamesBids.com:
Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development, Youth and Sports Teo Ser Luck unveiled the tagline, logo, official website and video of Singapore’s bid for the 2010 Youth Olympic Games on Tuesday at the Singapore Sports School. He said, “the tagline “Blazing the Trail” is about Singapore blazing the trail in making investments to youth and sports. It also conveys the country’s can-do spirit, passion and determination to bid for the Games.
The official logo for the bid is the national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim, to reflect the country’s quest for fresh ideas, progress and excellence in all aspects of life.
An official video that highlights the best of Singapore will also be presented to the International Olympic Committee which can be viewed on the official website www.singapore2010.sg and You Tube.
The video highlights the magic of the country, showcasing its beauty, vibrancy and diversity while capturing the energy and passion of its youth, according to Singapore 2010.
The core of Singapore’s bid is the celebration of the Olympic values - excellence, friendship and respect through the bid. Singapore 2010 said it hopes to inspire true sportsmanship among youths and promote understanding and harmony among communities and with other nations.
Teo Ser Luck said it was a challenge to actually put together an international event in such a short time, but said it is a challenge for all the other cities.
He said, “Singapore has a proven track record to turn around many international events – IOC Session, the IMF – so I believe it is a challenge, but it is also our advantage”.
Ng Ser Miang, Executive Board Member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said, “the Prime Minister has given a very strong endorsement for Singapore to bid. And I think the different government agencies and the whole sports fraternity are also behind the bid, so there is a lot of input that makes this a very strong bid”.
Here is a promo video put together by the bidding organization:
Friday, October 12, 2007
My feelings on the London 2012 logo...
In lieu of writing a long post about my feelings on the London 2012 logo debacle I found an article that articulates my feelings even better than I could put into words. The post comes from a blog called Logic + Emotion:
Before you read on—please take a look at the two visuals above for at least 15 seconds.
Done?
OK, what do you think?
Here's what I think. I think we are looking at two examples of Graphic Design. One example is successful. The other is not as successful. Graphic Design falls under the broader category of Visual Communications. In order for Visual Communications to be successful, it must nail two things:
1. It must be visual
2. It must communicate
This is what the London 2012 site says about their visual identity (shown above)
"The new emblem is dynamic, modern and flexible. It will work with new technology and across traditional and new media networks."
This is what the design firm behind Chicago's 2016 effort put forth:
"The Chicago 2016 logo blends the colors of the five Olympic rings within torch-shaped vista of the city, from serene blue lake to vibrant green landscape to fiery skyline. It also evokes Chicago’s Games concept, to host compact Olympic Games celebrated in the center of the city, along the lakefront and in the city’s parks."
Is this really just a matter of taste? One could argue that London's logo is appealing to some. Maybe a younger demographic? Maybe older—I don't know, you tell me. But let's take a look at these examples from another perspective:
Which one solves a problem? In my opinion the Chicago identity tells us two things immediately:
1. Olympics
2. Chicago
And yes—from a personal preference I think it's visually appealing and does capture the vibrancy of Chicago's lakefront through the color. What's my point in all of this? My point is that I have a gut feeling something went horribly wrong during London's design process. Maybe someone thought the identity really did look "dynamic, modern, and flexible".
The London identity is supposed to read "2012". I didn't see it. Did you? What could have helped the London 2012 committee avoid this? The committee could have realized they had a problem to solve. The problem was how to successfully communicate London's enthusiasm and passion for the Olympic spirit. Maybe they were solving for the wrong problem—or worse yet just following an exercise in style.
The identity fails because it doesn't successfully communicate London, or the Olympic spirit. It doesn't tell a story. Instead it focuses on translating "dynamic, modern, and flexible". Seth says it best:
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Ticket program details for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games
From an email distributed by The Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games:
As the countdown to the first day of ticket sales for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games begins, we're excited to introduce an accessible and affordable ticket program ensuring all fans have a fair chance to attend the Games and experience this once in a lifetime event.
Highlights of the ticket program include:
- tickets will go on sale in October 2008
- half of all Games tickets will be priced at $100 or less
- more than 100,000 tickets will be available for $25
Information about the ticket program is now available at vancouver2010.com, and new information will be added throughout the coming year.
Follow the links below to find out more about:
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
GE to decide on NBC after 2008 Olympics
By Francesco Guerrera, Joshua Chaffin and Aline Van Duyn in New York
The fate of NBC Universal, General Electric’s entertainment unit, will be decided only after the Beijing Olympics, with executives at the US conglomerate ruling out a sale before August’s showcase event, according to people close to the situation.
NBC, whose value is estimated at about $40bn, has been the subject of repeated sale rumours because of its lagging performance and the awkward fit with the rest of GE’s industrial and financial businesses.
The issue is likely to resurface on Friday, when GE reports third-quarter earnings that should show signs of improvement at NBC.
People close to the situation say that Jeffrey Immelt, GE’s chairman and chief executive, will not consider the future of GE’s 80 per cent stake in NBC – which had sales of $16.2bn and profits of $2.9bn last year – before the Olympics.
The other shareholder, the French media group Vivendi, is not seen as a potential buyer or a long-term owner of the shares. Under a deal with GE, Vivendi has the right to ask the US company to buy back its 20 per cent stake or force a listing of NBC.
GE declined to comment on NBC, whose assets include TV channels, a film studio and theme parks.
The Olympics are expected to provide NBC, which owns the US TV rights to the event, with a windfall in extra advertising revenues as well as a chance to display its technological and journalistic prowess. The games also allow GE to boost sales of its aviation, medical technology and other businesses in China. GE is forecasting $500m in extra sales from Olympics-related contracts, excluding NBC.
A year ago, NBC announced a broad restructuring aimed at generating $700m in cost savings. Jeff Zucker, who was named chief executive of the business in February, has been trying to convince investors to look beyond its broadcast TV heritage to growth opportunities overseas and in its expanding portfolio of cable networks.
This week, NBC announced plans to acquire Oxygen Media for $925m, adding it to a stable that includes Bravo, the Sci-Fi Channel and the USA Network, among others.
Mr Zucker told the Financial Times that the Oxygen acquisition and that of Sparrowhawk, another cable group, in August, underlined GE’s commitment. “It’s about performance, and if NBC Universal is performing, I think we’ll be here for a long time,” he said.
GE executives argue that any decision to sell will depend on the overall effect on the conglomerate, particularly its valuation and tax rate.
Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Jones Returns 5 Medals From Sydney Games
Her reputation is gone and now so are Marion Jones' Olympic medals.
Jones gave back the five medals she won at the Sydney Olympics on Monday and agreed to forfeit all other results dating back to Sept. 1, 2000, further punishment for her admission that she was a drug cheat.
The three gold medals and two bronzes were turned over to U.S. Olympic Committee and U.S. Anti-Doping Agency officials at her attorneys' office in Austin, Texas. They are en route to USOC headquarters in Colorado Springs, and the USOC will return them to the International Olympic Committee.
"We've done what we can," said Jim Scherr, the USOC's chief executive officer. "We caught the person who was not clean. We've got the medals in our possession, and we will return them to IOC."
Jones won golds in the 100 and 200 meters, as well as the 1,600 relay. She won bronzes in the 400 relay and the long jump. It will be up to the IOC to decide what to do with the medals and whether to vacate Jones' results from Sydney -- which could cost her relay teammates medals, too.
Scherr and USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth both said they would support the IOC nullifying the relay results, and encouraged the other Americans to give back their medals.
Read more at ESPN.com
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Track star Marion Jones admits doping before 2000 Sydney Games
Marion Jones admitted using steroids before the 2000 Olympics in a recent letter to close family and friends, The Washington Post reported Thursday.
Jones, who won five medals in Sydney, said she took ``the clear" for two years, beginning in 1999, and that she got it from former coach Trevor Graham, who told her it was flaxseed oil, the newspaper reported.
"The clear" is a performance-enhancing drug linked to BALCO, the lab at the center of a federal steroids investigation. Until now, Jones had steadfastly denied she ever took any kind of performance-enhancing drugs.
Jones also said she will plead guilty Friday in New York to two counts of lying to federal agents about her drug use and an unrelated financial matter, the Post reported.
"I want to apologize for all of this,'' the Post reported, quoting a person who received a copy of the letter and read it to the paper. "I am sorry for disappointing you all in so many ways.''
The admission could cost Jones the medals from the Sydney Olympics, where she was one of the United States' brightest stars. Though she fell short of her goal of winning five gold medals, she came away with three and two bronzes.
But her career has been tarnished since then by doping allegations. In her letter, Jones said she lied when she was questioned in 2003 by federal agents investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative. Jones said she panicked when agents presented her with a sample of "the clear,'' which she recognized as the substance Graham had given her.
In the letter, Jones said she didn't realize she'd used a performance-enhancing drug until she stopped training with Graham at the end of 2002.
"Red flags should have been raised when he told me not to tell anyone,'' the Post reported, quoting the letter.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Prague Changes 2016 Bid Logo At Request Of IOC
From bidgames.com:
Prague’s bid logo for the 2016 Summer Olympic Games has been changed as requested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Prague Mayor Pavel Bem and Czech Olympic Committee chairman Milan Jirasek unveiled the official logo on September 4, which consisted of green numbers in the year 2016 shaped like a laurel branch as a symbol of victory. But the IOC requested that the year’s numbers be written under the branch next to the name of the city, said Karel Tejkal, a spokesman for Prague’s bid committee.
He said the new version of the logo, consisting of the laurel branch with Prague 2016 written underneath as requested, was approved by the IOC in a letter signed by Jacques Rogge, President of the IOC.
See the original logo in this post.
Ueberroth: Chicago 'third or fourth' among 2016 Olympic favorites
Associated Press
CHICAGO -- Chicago isn't the front-runner for the 2016 Olympics many are making it out to be. It's not even a close second.
With two years before the vote for the 2016 host, Chicago is third or fourth on the list of favorites, U.S. Olympic Committee chairman Peter Ueberroth said Thursday. Ahead of Chicago are Madrid, Spain; Tokyo; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
"It's not a criticism, it's a reality," Ueberroth said after meeting with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley. "There's no criticism of Chicago 2016. I'm not saying they're doing anything wrong. I'm telling you they're in third or fourth place."
Baku, Azerbaijan; Doha, Qatar; and Prague, Czech Republic also are bidding for the Summer Olympics. The International Olympic Committee will choose the host city Oct. 2, 2009, at its session in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Chicago was thought to be the early favorite in the 2016 race, because the United States hasn't hosted a Summer Olympics since Atlanta in 1996. Although there's no official policy of rotating the games, Asia (Beijing) and Europe (London) will have just hosted Summer Olympics.
Chicago also has a solid bid, with venues located in a compact area downtown, many on picturesque Lake Michigan.
But all the cities will present strong bids, Ueberroth said. Chicago needs to sell itself to the 100-plus IOC members, and it needs to be doing it now.
Read more at ESPN.COM
Posts
