NATO Summit Wales 2014 logo unveiled
The NATO Summit Wales 2014 logo has been unveiled in Brussels by the Foreign Secretary and NATO Secretary General.
Foreign Secretary William Hague and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen today unveiled the logo for the NATO Summit Wales 2014 in Brussels. Wales Secretary David Jones was also at the event, which followed a reception on Tuesday showcasing the best of Welsh produce to foreign ministers from around the world.
At the launch, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:
The UK is very much looking forward to welcoming NATO Allies and partners to NATO Summit Wales in September. As NATO Foreign Ministers meet today for the last time before the Summit, Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen and I have the great pleasure to unveil the NATO Summit Wales 2014 logo. It is also a great pleasure to be joined here today by Secretary of State for Wales David Jones.
The logo incorporates Cardiff castle, a Celtic knot, a red dragon that represents the irrepressible spirit of the people of Wales, and the Newport transporter bridge - an icon of the host city of Newport.
When the UK last hosted the summit in July 1990, we were emerging from the Cold War and NATO was yet to conduct any overseas operations. Since then, the world has changed. But NATO remains the indispensable cornerstone of our security.
NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said:
Together with William, I am proud to unveil the logo for our next NATO summit in Wales. It is a vibrant tapestry that presents strong symbols of Wales in a modern way.
The Celtic knot represents the four ancient elements of earth, water, air and fire. To me, it is also a symbol of the unbreakable bond that binds the NATO Allies together. At the Summit we will strengthen these bonds.
Secretary of State for Wales David Jones said:
I am very proud to be attending this event in Brussels to launch the NATO Wales summit logo. It is a mark of this Government’s commitment to Wales that the Prime Minister chose to bring the Nato Summit to Newport.
We must all use this once in a lifetime opportunity to put Wales on the world stage, showcase the finest it has to offer and send delegates home with a firm message that we are open for business. This logo is a tangible symbol of that message.
The logo will be used around the Summit venues and in communications to thousands of delegates and media attending the Summit. It draws on Wales’ diverse heritage and captures some of the iconic images associated with the nation.
The government is also inviting people from across Wales to share their images of what makes Wales so special to them – with a selection of the images to be displayed around the Summit venues in September. Any images of Wales tweeted with the hashtag #MyWales between now and the Summit could be viewed by the dozens of world leaders who will be attending – helping to make the Summit an opportunity for the people of Wales to showcase the best it has to offer.
Further information
The NATO Summit Wales 2014 logo incorporates:
- The NATO logo
- A castle to represent Wales’ rich history (with 641 castles Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in the world)
- A dragon to represent the Welsh Spirit – “Y Ddraig Goch Ddyry Cychwyn” is a Welsh motto with an approximate translation of “the red dragon inspires action”
- The Celtic Knot to represent Welsh heritage - the knot symbolises the four corners of the compass and the four elements of Earth, Fire, Water and Air
- The Newport Transporter Bridge to represent the host city of the Summit – the bridge is an icon of the Newport skyline, and one of only six operational transporter bridges left world-wide
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