Stupid Logo Elicits Even More Stupid Reaction

This is the official logo of the 2012 London Olympics™.

It looks like crap, but the Islamic Republic of Iran® thinks it spells "ZION©"

According to an Iranian official, the logo, with its blocky, abstract rendering of "2012," is racist because it appears to spell the word "Zion," a biblical term for Jerusalem, rather than 2012. Bahram Afsharzadeh, the secretary-general of Iran's National Olympic Committee, said via the official IRNA news agency that he sent a letter of complaint to International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge.

"There is no doubt that negligence of the issue from your side may affect the presence of some countries in the games, especially Iran, which abides by commitment to the values and principles," Afsharzadeh said in the letter to Rogge, according to the Associated Press, and urged other Muslim states to protest as well.

The International Olympic Committee and London's organizing committee disagree. "Our response is as follows: The London 2012 logo represents the figure 2012, nothing else," the IOC said

Readers at the Washington Post story on this observe:

If you look at it that abstractly it also spells a number of other things including "Tron", "Corn", "AARP", you can even make it spell "Iran".

and:

I think the entire world should boycott the games unless they change this logo, simply because it looks ridiculous.

and:

The REAL reason that Iran is boycotting the 2012 Summer Olympics in London is because they can't outfit the proper swim gear for their horses so that their athletes can complete in water polo.

and:

At first glance, it looks like a McDonald's burger campaign that only Royale beef and McRib pork will be served at the Olympics. Just add the slogan "I'm lovin' it" and it's golden arches 'round the world, baby!

Personally, if the Iranian government had any less of a sense of humor, they could work for Sarah Palin, where lack of snark is viewed as a desirable trait.