Iran has protested against the already London's controversial logo for the 2012 Olympic Games, saying the emblem is racist and spells the word 'Zion'- Zion is a biblical term that often refers to the city Jerusalem - the ILNA news agency reported.Iran's national Olympic committee have made an official complaint about the logo to the International Olympic Committee (IOC),and are threatening to boycott the Games.
Mohammad Aliabadi, head of the national Olympic committee in the Islamic republic, said the logo undermined the event and accused the British organisers of indulging in "racism".
"Unfortunately, we all are witnessing that the upcoming Olympics ... faces a serious challenge, definitely spawned out of some people's racist spirit", Aliabadi said in a letter to IOC president Jacques Rogge.
"The use of the word Zion by the designer of the Olympics logo ... in the emblem of the Olympics Games 2012 is a very revolting act".
London 2012 chiefs expressed surprise at the claims.
A London 2012 spokeswoman said, "The London 2012 logo represents the year 2012, nothing else. It was launched in 2007 following testing and consultation, we are surprised that this complaint has been made now".
The IOC have confirmed that they have received a letter from the Iranian national Olympic committee but have backed London's position on the logo.
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