RESIDENTS are being invited to vote for their favorite logos for the Shenzhen 2011 Summer Universiade.
The 11 entries revealed by the government Thursday stood out from more than 3,000 contributions from artists in China, which took a seven-member panel three months to shortlist.
“We will select five of the 11 candidates, with the public’s votes serving as a guide, and hand them to the Universiade organizing committee to decide,” said Zhao Guanghua, vice chief of the Executive Board of Shenzhen 2011 Summer Universiade.
“We have been looking for a logo that shows Shenzhen’s diversity and a symbol that demonstrates its difference from other Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai,” said panel chairman Kan Tai-keung, a professor of Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
“The 11 candidates basically manifest the creativity, vitality, fashion and enthusiasm of Shenzhen,” said Kan.
The board extended invitations in March to 11 design institutions including graphic design associations in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen, and universities including Qinghua University, China Central Academy of Fine Arts, Guangzhou Fine Arts Institute and Shenzhen University.
Two candidates recommended by Shenzhen Graphic Design Association were highly praised by the judges.
One is entitled Happy U. “The letter ‘u’ has many implications. It can be ‘you,’ ‘Universiade,’ or ‘universial,” said Kan, adding the design reflects a good theme, that the Universiade is a gala for young people, full of vitality and happiness.
Another design featuring “S” and “U” in graffiti style manifests young people’s passion, uprising and longing for freedom.
“This design shows the pioneering spirit of Shenzhen, which has discarded a lot of tradition and is embracing the new century,” said Wang Luxing, a senior strategist at Phoenix TV.
The executive board will announce the e-mail address and voting methods later.
In a separate development, the Asian University Sports Federation (AUSF) will hold its fifth General Assembly, the biggest-ever in its history, in Shenzhen on July 15 and 16.
Apart from almost 80 delegates representing university sports federations of Asian countries and regions, George E. Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), Claude-Louis Gallien, first vice president of the FISU, Roch Campana, secretary general of the FISU, and other members of the FISU Executive Committee will attend.（Han Ximin）