Tokyo 2020 Olympics new logo unveiled after plagiarism claim

Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee chairperson Ryohei Miyata (R) helps committee member Aki Taguchi (2nd R) unveil the four emblem designs shortlisted with Ai Sugiyama (L) at its headquarter in Tokyo on April 8, 2016. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

Tokyo 2020 Olympic organizers on Monday announced a new logo nearly eight months after the original choice was scrapped over an embarrassing plagiarism scandal.

The new design, chosen from a short list of four finalists unveiled earlier this month, features a circular indigo-colored Japanese traditional checkered pattern.

Below the design are the words “Tokyo 2020” and under them the five interlocking Olympic rings.

Ryohei Miyata, head of the Tokyo 2020 emblem committee, and retired Japanese baseball legend Sadaharu Oh unveiled the winner at a Tokyo news conference.

The design for the Paralympic Games was also revealed and represents a slight variation of that for the Olympics and was created by the same person.

Below the design are the words “Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games” with the Olympic rings at the bottom.

In September 2015, Tokyo organizers were forced to ditch a logo by Japanese designer Kenjiro Sano following allegations it too closely resembled that of a theatre in the Belgian city of Liege created by designer Olivier Debie.

READ: Japan scraps Olympic logo over plagiarism allegation

Officials insisted their decision had not been in response to a lawsuit filed by Debie but slumping public confidence as Tokyo organizers lurched from one crisis to another. Sano has denied any plagiarism.