Japan scraps Olympic logo over plagiarism allegation

In this Aug. 5 photo, Japanese designer Kenjiro Sano gives a detailed explanation of how he came up with his logo, left, for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at a press conference in Tokyo. Tokyo Olympic organizers are expected to scrap the logo for the 2020 Games on Sept. 1 following another allegation its Japanese designer might have used copied materials in presentations of the design. AP

TOKYO—Tokyo Olympic organizers on Tuesday decided to scrap the logo for the 2020 Games following another allegation its Japanese designer might have used copied materials.

Reversing their earlier support for designer Kenjiro Sano against allegations of plagiarizing the design, the organizers said the decision came after new accusations over the weekend.

“We have reached a conclusion that it would be only appropriate for us to drop the logo and develop a new emblem,” said Toshio Muto, director general of the Tokyo organizing committee. “At this point, we have decided that the logo cannot gain public support.”

The logo has faced scrutiny since a Belgian designer took legal action saying it resembled one of his works that was created for a theater in Belgium.

Organizers had defended Sano during a news conference last Friday when they released his original design, which had been altered into its final shape, to stress its authenticity. That, instead, triggered fresh allegations over the initial “T” design.

Sano stood by his design but offered to withdraw the logo during discussion with the organizers Monday.

Muto said the organizing committee will have another competition to decide a new logo “as soon as possible,” though he did not give a schedule.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters before the announcement that the organizing committee was making “an appropriate decision” and that the Olympic must be an event that is celebrated by everyone.

The logo scandal is another embarrassment for Japan, which scrapped the initial design of the main stadium for the Games following public uproar over its skyrocketing cost estimate. The delay caused by that revision meant the new stadium won’t be ready for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as had been initially promised, and that organizers and builders will be struggling to meet the revised deadline of January, 2020 set by the International Olympic Committee.

Sano, who has faced allegations of plagiarism since the logo’s July debut, now faces a reputation of a habitual plagiarizer.

The latest suspicion surfaced late Monday, when he was alleged to have taken a photo from someone else’s website for use in his presentation of the Olympic logo, including one at its launch.

Sano allegedly altered part of a photo of a Tokyo airport lobby, replacing images of banners hanging from the ceiling with those of his Olympic logo. Details in the two photos, including people on the floor and the size of the banners, were identical in footages shown by NHK.

Sano has previously acknowledged that eight of the 30 designs used for a brewery’s promotional tote bags included copies of others’ works. In those, however, he held his assistants responsible for having “traced” the images and he only apologized for the lack of oversight.

He also faces allegations that his design for a zoo in central Japan and another for a public museum outside Tokyo have close resemblance to others’ works that had been published before him.

“I want Mr. Sano to provide an explanation. I feel like we have been betrayed,” Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe told reporters earlier Tuesday.