Tokyo 2020 animated pictograms revealed

For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020 has created kinetic sports pictograms.

There are a total of 50 pictograms covering 33 Olympic sports and 23 covering 22 Paralympic sports. Their innovative designs aim to reflect the modern era symbolised by the year 2020 and enhance spectator enjoyment of events, both at venues and via TV broadcasting to national and global audiences.

The pictograms appear as a series of three movements: appear, static, and disappear. These recreate the three-dimensional movement of athletes in two dimensions and are able to express more dynamic movements such as twists.

Tokyo 2020 tweeted about the goal of the animated pictograms is it "highlight just how dynamic, innovative and special this Games will be."

5️⃣ Minutes 5️⃣5️⃣Kinetic Sport Pictograms#RT and let us know which one is your favourite in the comments below! 👇

Another historic first for #Tokyo2020 and the @Olympics and @Paralympics Games. ✨#UnitedByEmotion 5 Minutes Well Spent pic.twitter.com/hirDqAsGCz

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) February 26, 2020

The kinetic pictograms honour the legacy of past Olympic and Paralympic Games. The animated pictograms also emphasise that Tokyo 2020 will be the most innovative Games ever.

The Tokyo 2020 sports pictograms were unveiled in 2019. They were designed to subtly communicate the characteristics and athleticism of each sport. They also had the goal to artistically highlight the dynamism of the athletes.

Static sports pictograms were also introduced to the Olympics in Tokyo. The IOC official website recalls that "they arose from the need to communicate visually with an increasingly international group of athletes and spectators."