Brisbane 2032 emblem: Thurston and Thaiday reveal second piece, admit guessing game

The staggered unveiling of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics emblems continued on Wednesday morning, with NRL legends Johnathan Thurston and Sam Thaiday presenting the second of six pieces at Castle Hill Lookout in Townsville.

Thurston admitted he had "no idea" what the emblems could be, joking that the design might feature native wildlife.

"I was thinking maybe they could have been two ears of a kangaroo as the emblem," he said. "You know, you think of Australia, you're thinking kangaroos, aren't you? But I also like the Sunshine State idea."

The former North Queensland Cowboys star also spoke about the significance of Townsville co-hosting events in 2032, saying the impact on the city would be huge.

The full emblem design is expected to come together as the remaining four pieces are revealed in the coming days.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The emblem is a key piece of branding for the Brisbane 2032 Games and will appear on merchandise, signage and broadcasts worldwide.
Townsville's involvement in the unveiling highlights the regional co-hosting role in the Games, a major factor in the event's legacy planning.
The piece-by-piece reveal is designed to build public engagement, but it also risks leaving audiences more puzzled than excited.

Background

Olympic and Paralympic emblems are typically unveiled as a single, complete design. The Brisbane 2032 organisers have instead chosen a staggered approach, revealing six pieces over several days to generate sustained attention. Two of those pieces have now been shown, with Thurston and Thaiday presenting the latest at a well-known Townsville lookout.

Key Perspectives

Johnathan Thurston: The NRL great is in the dark like most Queenslanders, guessing at kangaroo ears or a Sunshine State theme, and stressing the benefits for Townsville as a co-host city. Sam Thaiday: Joining the reveal in Townsville, Thaiday's presence links the emblem to Queensland sporting identity, though he offered no further hints about the final design. Critics and skeptics: With only two pieces on display, the emblem's meaning remains unclear. Some may question whether the slow rollout creates genuine anticipation or simply prolongs uncertainty ahead of the official reveal.

What to Watch

The remaining four emblem pieces and what imagery they add to the design.
The final reveal date and whether the complete emblem matches Thurston's kangaroo or Sunshine State guesses.
Any official explanation of the design's symbolism once all pieces are shown.

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