It's Britain, unless there's a picture of Kate Moss, Beckham or the Queen Mum(Gawd luv'er, may she rest in peace)people will complain. There's a good reason the Aussies call us what they do.
Personally I think it's Ok (but nothing more than ok). The best description Of the logo I've come across was on todays comment is free in the Guardian "it looks like a guy with an Afro performing a sexual act on the guy on the left."

Is there a truly great design of _anything_ that has been widely hailed out of the traps?

I can't think of one.

The Barcelona chair, the Mini, the Sydney Opera House --- everyone _hated_ them when they first appeared.... and yet they are all classics.

I, for one, like the 2012 logo.

HAHAHAHA What the F* is THAT!

As someone from the UK, I'm disgusted and disappointed by this new logo. Maybe it's alright for people living in other countries, but it could be it's because their country didn't output such cr*p after paying £400,000 (a fortune even by Brit standards let alone elsewhere since the pound is supposed to be strong and all), which is an embarrassment in itself, and they don't have to live with it!

Seriously, how anyone could think this is good and represents the London Olympics 2012 is far beyond me. As the first poster has said, many different suggestions have been made about what it *actually* represents, but I defy anyone to find 2012 at their first glance.

At least with the Beijing logo, no matter how much criticism was thrown at it, it still clearly represents what it is meant to advertise.

People can argue it has sparked awhole load of advertising, but as far as I'm concerned, it's really undermining the Olympic Committee and their decision making process.

p/s: Over time no doubt the logo will be accepted, the human brain is excellent at normalising things after a long period of exposure. Although should note that apparently the new logo fails the Harding test, and so if shown on TV is likely to cause epileptic fits.

Oi vei. It really is ugly. What is this?

Surely a group of overpaid adults could come up with something more meaningful than what looks like an afterthought?

Give crayons to a study group of 10 yr olds and I'll bet they come up with something better...

"Surely a group of overpaid adults could come up with something more meaningful than what looks like an afterthought?

Give crayons to a study group of 10 yr olds and I'll bet they come up with something better..."

You are all missing the point of this logo...its all advertising and advertising is about creating "BUZZ". Getting in the news no matter how great or terrible the design they are creating this "BUZZ". So get back to work and stop debating this crap.

You can all break out those neon jams and listen to Living Colour, Run DMC, or Cindi Lauper became the 80s is back in full effect neon ugliness and all.

Embrace it biznitches

Hey that's what it reminded me when I saw it man, In Living Color...

LOL, you name FRITZ, reminds me of this game I play, COD2...

and when the buzz dies down, you are left with a pile of shit for the next five years.

Lisa Simpson giving oral sex has been suggested as a possible inspiration.

By the way, the animated version was pulled because it gave epileptic fits. What a great start to London's campaign.

Ther are certainly less sketchy images to be found... Even in MS Clipart.