As his humble demonstration against racial inequality, Araki proposes alternative designs of the Olympic and Paralympic symbols which cerebrate the racial diversity of all the athletes, staffs and spectators.

 

The Olympics and Paralympics are (should work as) one of the symbolic events of fair and peaceful spirit. The atheletes’ performance must be praised for regardless of their nationalities, sexes, races or colours in and beyond the games.

 

The colours of the current Olympic symbol, whose initial design was created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913, represent the Five Continents and were originally with intention to include all colours of the flags of the countries competing at the time. The Paralympic symbol, which first appeared in 1988, also originally consisted of five parts in the same colours as the Olympic’s, but it was, upon a request from the IOC, redesigned in 1992 in three parts which represent spirit, body and mind. The symbol was further modernised in 2004, becoming like the current appearance.

 

The colours of the Olympic and Paralympic alternatives are intended to focus not on the regions the athletes, staffs and spectators are from but on themselves. While the interconnected rings of the current Olympic symbol aim to represent the union of the Five Continents, the alternative emphasises the union of each of us. The Paralympic alternative increases its momentum with the addition of two more swooshes in reference to its original version, enhancing its representation. In this way, these symbols become more human and proudly communicate the very essence of the events - humans themselves, and thus reinforcing the philosophy of the Olympics and Paralympics.

 

Just because born Japanese (or Asian), Araki has experienced racial discrimination several times while living in London or traveling around Europe. Even though the experiences were not comparable at all with the cruelties continuously reported from overseas, they were enough to be felt as a denial of his identity or existence. Hoping for realisation of a truly fair and peaceful world, he has created these alternative designs as representation of his voice for racial equality.

 

Diversity must not be subjected to discrimination. It is diversity that makes the world full of wonder. It balances the world. It makes the world rich and deep. It is treasure of the universe.

 

Diversity is beautiful.

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​Concept, Design, Research and Development: Kosuke Araki