Tate, who took over from Ron Clarke as Gold Coast Mayor in April 2012, appeared to be particularly unhappy at allegedly being excluded from a secret viewing of the new Gold Coast 2018 logo, which will be officially unveiled at a public ceremony next month on April 4.

Tate was quoted in the Gold Coast Bulletin saying: "If the shoe was on the other foot, we would have paid due respect and shown them the logo and not kept them in the dark.

"Nobody likes to feel like mushroom.'"

But the Organising Committee has played down a rift with the Mayor, saying he has been included through the process and will play a "significant role" in the unveiling of the logo next month.

"The Mayor was certainly not excluded from being involved in the brand development," a Gold Coast 2018 spokesperson told insidethegames.

"In actual fact he was one of a handful of Gold Coasters who were interviewed in a one on one meeting to ascertain their personal perspective of the Gold Coast and the Commonwealth Games.

"The responses and results from broader research contributed to the development of the brand and ultimately the design of the Games emblem that will be revealed early in April.

"The process of brand development and subsequent protocols  had to be followed to ensure legal obligations, copyright and trademarks were all in place prior to the emblem reveal with the last of the legal approvals obtained only last week.

"The Mayor had actually a meeting with the Gold Coast 2018 chairman and chief executive the day after the Gold Coast Bulletin story so he could see the emblem and the creative elements that will form the initial 'look and feel' visual identity.

"The Mayor will have a significant role in the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games launch and emblem unveiling at the celebration event on Thursday, April 4, 2013."

Tate has largely been a positive supporter of the 2018 Commonwealth Games but it was his predecessor as Mayor, Clarke, who played a major role in helping the city secure the event,

A former long-distance runner that won medals at both the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, Clarke's presence at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis in November 2011 played a decisive factor in helping the Australian city hold off sole rivals Hambantota of Sri Lanka by 43 votes to 27.

Clarke resigned as Gold Coast Mayor shortly after with Tate taking up the role.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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