Paris 2024 reveals handball pictogram and ‘Look of the Games’
Four-time IHF Men’s World Champion and two-time Olympic Games gold medalist Jérôme Fernandez contributed to the launch of the visual identity for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on Wednesday (February 8).
Former France captain Fernandez, who made 390 appearances for his country and scored 1,463 goals, was greeted by Tony Estanguet, President of Paris 2024, Emmanuel Grégoire, First Deputy Mayor of Paris, Laurent Mazaury, Sports Vice-President of Saint-Quentin-en, supports -Yvelines, and Julie Matikhine, Brand Director of Paris 2024, at the launch event in Saint-Denis, north of the French capital Paris.
The look
The visual identity, known as “The Look of the Games”, is the “… decoration used to dress each competition venue, along with the towns and festival sites decked out in the colors of the Games for several weeks” according to the Organizing Committee of Paris 2024.
It embodies “French elegance, a bold new aesthetic and the rich symbolism of the cobbled streets found in France’s cityscapes” and is built around four distinct objectives – celebration, transfer, streamlining and personalization – each reflecting the overall message of the games .
The look consists of blue, red, green and purple colors representing the richness and diversity of France and the spirit of the Paris 2024 slogan “Games Wide Open”.
Pictograms revealed
As part of the look, 62 “pictograms” representing each sporting discipline of the Paris 2024 Games were launched.
Pictograms are pictorial symbols for a word or phrase – in this case sport – that convey its meaning in a simple, direct and visual way.
The Paris 2024 pictographs are based on the medieval northern European ‘coats of arms’ that appeared on shields and served to identify those who wore them.
For Paris 2024, they represent a “badge of honor for not just a sporting discipline but also a family, a sense of pride, a set of values and a community, and pay homage to the complexity of each of the sports and what makes them unique… a A symbol of each wearer’s belonging to a chosen sports family and a sign of connection to a great and beautiful sports community.’
IHF involved in the development
Each pictogram was designed in collaboration with the international federation responsible for the respective sport.
They all consist of three graphic elements: a representation of the sport discipline, a distinctive aspect of the pitch, court or running track used by the sport discipline, and an axis of symmetry, and these three elements are then combined into a unique coat of arms.
The International Handball Federation and the Paris 2024 Organizing Committee collaborated on the design process for the handball pictogram.
The final version highlights the goal, area, seven-meter and nine-meter lines, and the iconic hexagonal handball, a variation of which can be seen in the IHF logo itself.
“The International Federations have played a role in its development,” Matikhine said at the launch. “In fencing, for example, the pictogram shows the three different types of blades with foil and epee at the top and saber at the bottom. There’s a kind of finesse in the detail and accuracy of the sporting use. We discussed the design of the mask in great detail with the International Federation to achieve the best possible representation.”
Pictograms will be present at all competition venues and will appear wherever matches are taking place to guide spectators and energize the crowds.
Read more about the Paris 2024 pictograms.
Watch a video about the Paris 2024 pictograms.
Read about the history of pictograms used in the Olympic Games.
Read more about the Paris 2024 brand.
Read more about handball at the Olympic Games.
Photos: Paris 2024