This drawstring bag, with its screen-printed design, promoted the city of Istanbul in its bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games. Istanbul was defeated in the first of four bidding rounds, and was succeeded by Berlin, Manchester, Beijing and Sydney. Its logo - two red converging paths against a white background - was one of the more colourful and abstract designs for the 2000 bid. On this bag, it is combined with Istanbul's bid slogan, 'Let's meet where the continents meet'. The drawstring bag represents the current trend in Olympic bid logos, and contrasts other Olympic bid souvenirs in 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 Istanbul logo was simple yet colourful, featuring two converging paths in red and orange. In contrast, the Berlin logo was notably austere, representing the Brandenburg Gates in basic black and white. The Manchester logo incorporated the city colours - red and blue - and depicted an ignited Olympic cauldron above a golden letter 'M'. The Beijing logo referred directly to Chinese culture, combining a red pagoda with the Olympic rings.

Without doubt, the Milan and Sydney logos were the most modern and distinctive in style, modifying and modernising cultural icons. The Milan logo depicted a silver athlete bounding from Da Vinci's study of the human form, and the Sydney logo represented the roofline of the Opera House in the colours of the Olympic rings. This latter logo, and its uniquely dynamic design, reflects the experience of Australia's National Olympic Committee that had developed unsuccessful and conventional logos for its 1992 and 1996 Olympic bids.

This drawstring bag, with its printed design, promoted the city of Istanbul in its bid to host the 2000 Olympic Games. Istanbul was defeated in the first of four bidding rounds, and was succeeded by Berlin, Manchester, Beijing and Sydney. Its logo - two red converging paths against a white background - was one of the more colourful and abstract designs for the 2000 bid. On this bag, it is combined with Istanbul's bid slogan, 'Let's meet where the continents meet'. The drawstring bag represents the current trend in Olympic bid logos, and contrasts other Olympic bid souvenirs in the Sydney 2000 Games Collection.

Designer unknown

Made c.1993

Used to promote Istanbul's bid for the 2000 Olympic Games

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

Drawstring bag, Istanbul bid for the 2000 Olympic Games, printed cotton, designer unknown, maker unknown, made c.1993.

Bag, tote, drawstring, white cotton with orange cord in hem at top, rectangular, sewn on three sides. Black text painted onto bag: "Let's meet where/ the continents meet/ Istanbul 2000." Image of two roads interconnecting, and linked Olympic rings. Powerhouse Museum registration label sewn inside at back on drawstring hemline.

2001/84/304

433 mm

325 mm