The 2024 Paris Olympics Logo

What does it mean, and what’s a Phryges??

In case you haven’t heard, 2024 is a leap year. In the UK this means that on February 29th there’s an extra opportunity for it to rain, but for the world it signals something much more exciting – the arrival of the summer Olympic Games.

In case you haven’t heard (number two), this year’s Olympics are taking place in Paris, home to those enemies of athletes and fashion models everywhere – croissants, cheese and wine. As tradition dictates, the host country has spared no expense in preparing for the games, including the unique branding for 2024’s event.

So, in honour of all the hard work and extra hours put in by the marketing department of the Paris Olympic Games, the mustard MD team are donning their berets and taking a close up look at something that’s arguably as important as the competitors themselves – the 2024 Paris Olympics logo.

Starring Marianne – evergreen icon of the République française

The visual identity for Paris 2024 links three iconic symbols – the Olympic torch is cleverly combined within a gold medal to create the image of Marianne. Marianne has represented the French republic for hundreds of years and stands as the embodiment of its values: Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.

The design is also groundbreaking for another reason, as it marks the very first time that the same emblem has been used for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Created by the Royalties-Ecobranding agency, Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, chair of the 2024 Olympics commission, is over the moon with the design:

“The combination of the gold medal, the Olympic flame, and Marianne brings together the values, history and French touch that will make these Olympic Games truly special.”

The typeface used for ‘Paris 2024’ is both clean and elegant, and invokes the Art Deco period between the wars, while casting a stylish throwback to 1924 – the last time Paris hosted the Games.

But what do the three elements of the logo mean?

First up, Marianne is everywhere in French art and popular culture. She’s woven into the very fabric of French identity, as well as representing the beating heart of the 1789 French Revolution.

But where Marianne gives the logo its unique French flavour, the medal and torch are very Olympic in their values – the medal signifies our eternal striving for excellence, while the flame symbolises the energy we share, friendship and unity.

Well, that’s the logo, in an Olympic-sized nutshell. But we can’t possibly sign off without a word about the Paris 2024 mascots. Because, frankly, the Olympics just aren’t the Olympics without something cute to spend our money on.

So, a round of applause, please, for the Paris 2024 Revolutionary Phryges mascots.

The what, we hear you ask?

The Phryges are the cuddly-looking creations that are breaking with the usual animal-centric mascot tradition. Apparently, they “personify an ideal, a powerful symbol of freedom and a historical reference”. They’re called Phryges, as they wear two small Phrygian hats. Basically, we just want one!

Are you ready to lead a marketing revolution for a future Olympic Games?

Well, good for you! And, by the way, we’d like to talk. mustard MD has a constant flow of brilliant people and opportunities coming into our offices, so give us a call on our hotline. The number to dial is 0117 929 6060.