This set of four Sydney bid ties, made around 1993 by John and Lois Ties of Sydney, promoted Sydney's bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games. Sydney progressed through all four bidding rounds, beating Istanbul, Berlin, Manchester and Beijing to win the right to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The ties represent one variation of Bryce's bid design, and complement other bid items within the Sydney 2000 Games Collection.

The tradition of bid logos emerged in the early 1950s when Melbourne produced an insignia to support its tender to host the 1956 Games. National Olympic Committees - national organisations controlling local Olympic affaires - developed logos from this time onwards to distinguish their bid from other Olympic tenders. Initially, these designs were quite plain and typically depicted the Olympic rings alongside a recognised national motif.

The suite of bid logos for the 2000 Olympic Games represents a combination of conservative and comparatively modern designs. Five cities - Istanbul, Berlin, Manchester, Beijing and Sydney - competed seriously to host the event, and aimed to win over the IOC with their comprehensive bid and corporate image. A further three cities - Brasilia, Tashkent and Milan - also tendered submissions though did not progress to the first bidding round. The Olympic rings featured in all 2000 bid logos, excepting those for Milan and Sydney.

The Sydney Olympic Bid Committee defined its image in 1992 when it selected a corporate theme, 'Share the Spirit', and held a protracted competition for a corporate logo. Eight local designers, including well-known artists like Ken Done, Ken Cato and Michael Bryce, submitted a total of almost sixty logo designs. Seemingly lacking a sense of energy and Indigenous references, these designs were rejected by all five judges: Rod McGeoch, Leo Schofield, Greg Daniel, Andrew Anderson and David Churches.

A second round of submissions saw the selection of Michael Bryce's new design - a multicoloured flash echoing the roofline of the Opera House, and random dots referencing Aboriginal dot painting. By this time, Bryce was already recognised for his work on sporting logos, having designed the logo for the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. Soon after the selection, ISIS/FHA Design Company, in- house designers for the Sydney Bid Committee, made some minor adjustments to Bryce's design.

In 1992, Bryce explained the informality of his logo, saying that he wanted to create an image that could be drawn simply in the sand - "no slide rule, no set square, no computer. If it can't be drawn by your fingers in the sand, then it's no good". Rod McGeoch also warmed to this informality, explaining that the logo "set the creative tone of what the Sydney bid was all about. colourful, vibrant, youthful and energetic". Moreover, the resulting merchandise "gave the impression that everyone associated with the bid was a bright, upbeat person with a youthful outlook". This image would permeate preparations for the Games and the Games themselves.

Fabric designed Michael Bryce and ISIS/FHA Design Company

Made by John and Lois Ties, Erskineville, Sydney, c.1993

Unused

Owned by the Olympic Coordination Authority/Sydney Orgnaising Committee for the Olympic Games, and donated to the Powerhouse Museum.

Bow ties with packaging (4), Olympic Games, Sydney, 2000 bid, polyester/ cardboard/ plastic, fabric design by Michael Bryce and ISIS/FHA Design Company, made by John and Lois Ties, Erskineville, Sydney c.1993.

A set of four polyester bow ties featuring the Sydney Olympic bid logo - the Opera House roofline in Olympic colours. The bow ties are packaged individually in white cardboard boxes with plastic lids. The manufacturer's label, 'John and Lois Ties', is inscribed within each box.

Made: 1988 - 1998

2001/84/396

1988 - 1998