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| Tokyo 2020 Olympics logo scrapped amid plagiarism claim | Tokyo 2020 Olympics logo scrapped amid plagiarism claim |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games has been scrapped after allegations that it was plagiarised. | The logo for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games has been scrapped after allegations that it was plagiarised. |
| The Games organising committee said there were too many doubts over the emblem for it to be used. A Belgian artist had complained that his design was stolen. | The Games organising committee said there were too many doubts over the emblem for it to be used. A Belgian artist had complained that his design was stolen. |
| Logo designer Kenjiro Sano had admitted copying online material for a previous project, Japanese media reported. | Logo designer Kenjiro Sano had admitted copying online material for a previous project, Japanese media reported. |
| In July, a new Olympic stadium design was scrapped amid a row over its cost. | |
| The logo was unveiled only last month, based around the letter T and a red circle representing a beating heart - which critics said resembled the Japanese flag. | The logo was unveiled only last month, based around the letter T and a red circle representing a beating heart - which critics said resembled the Japanese flag. |
| Its withdrawal is a highly unusual move. | Its withdrawal is a highly unusual move. |
| "We're certain the two logos are different," Toshio Muto, director general of the Tokyo organising committee, told a news conference. | "We're certain the two logos are different," Toshio Muto, director general of the Tokyo organising committee, told a news conference. |
| "But we became aware of new things this weekend and there was a sense of crisis that we thought could not be ignored. | "But we became aware of new things this weekend and there was a sense of crisis that we thought could not be ignored. |
| "We have reached a conclusion that it would be only appropriate for us to drop the logo and develop a new emblem. At this point, we have decided that the logo cannot gain public support." | "We have reached a conclusion that it would be only appropriate for us to drop the logo and develop a new emblem. At this point, we have decided that the logo cannot gain public support." |
| Belgian designer Olivier Debie claimed that the design was similar to his 2013 logo for the Theatre de Liege. He and the theatre had filed a lawsuit to prevent it being used. | Belgian designer Olivier Debie claimed that the design was similar to his 2013 logo for the Theatre de Liege. He and the theatre had filed a lawsuit to prevent it being used. |
| Mr Debie expressed surprise at the organisers' decision on Tuesday as they had publicly backed the design only days earlier. | Mr Debie expressed surprise at the organisers' decision on Tuesday as they had publicly backed the design only days earlier. |
| He told BBC Radio 5 live: "I thought the Olympic committee was a big machine and I didn't dare to take action against them." | |
| But the director of the Theatre de Liege had told him they had to "do something" and they sought the help of good copyright lawyers. | |
| He said the logo, devised in 2011, had been official for two years and would have been available on sites like Pinterest around the world. | |
| While Kenjiro Sano has denied plagiarising the logo, he has admitted his team did copy other work for a beer promotion and faces several other accusations of plagiarism. | While Kenjiro Sano has denied plagiarising the logo, he has admitted his team did copy other work for a beer promotion and faces several other accusations of plagiarism. |
| "I want Mr Sano to provide an explanation. I feel like we have been betrayed," said Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe. | "I want Mr Sano to provide an explanation. I feel like we have been betrayed," said Tokyo Governor Yoichi Masuzoe. |
| Japan was seen as a safe pair of hands to host the Olympics, but Tuesday's developments cap an awkward month for the organisers. | |
| The stadium delay means it will not be ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. A promise to keep most venues within eight kilometres (five miles) of the Olympic Village has also not been kept. | The stadium delay means it will not be ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. A promise to keep most venues within eight kilometres (five miles) of the Olympic Village has also not been kept. |
| There may also be repercussions for lucrative sponsorship deals as Japan Airlines and other sponsors have already started using the logo. | There may also be repercussions for lucrative sponsorship deals as Japan Airlines and other sponsors have already started using the logo. |
| Organisers say there will be another competition to decide a new logo "as soon as possible". |