The logo is the same as that of the Gold Coast Candidate City one but the words 'Candidate City' have been removed and replaced with 'XXI Commonwealth Games' to illustrate the fact that the Australian city will host the 21st edition of the competition.

The logo was officially unveiled on the side of Gold Coast Australia by the Gold Coast Mayor, Ron Clarke, and Queensland's Acting Minister for Sport, Simon Finn, at a recent ceremony at Southport Yacht Club.

Gold Coast Australia, complete with the new logo, will leave the Australian city on Christmas Eve and over the next seven months travel to Singapore, China, United States, Canada, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands before arriving back in Southampton on the south coast of England just a week before the start of the London 2012 Olympics.

Minister Finn said that showing off the logo in the race is a fantastic opportunity for the Gold Coast 2018 team.

"Promoting the Gold Coast as a Commonwealth Games host city is not just about ensuring the success of the event in 2018, it is about showcasing the Gold Coast to the world, attracting interest in the city as an exciting visitor destination and luring business investment in the lead up," he said.

"2018 will not only be a Gold Coast Games, it will also be a Queensland and Australian Games and there is no doubt in my mind that all Australians will feel a strong sense of pride when they see the Games logo on Gold Coast Australia.

"The yacht and her crew epitomise the wonderful excitement and spirit of adventure the Gold Coast is renowned for and it's this spirit that will ensure our Games in 2018 is one of the most unique and successful ever."

The logo is considered an interim logo that is likely to change before the start of the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Gold Coast defeated sole bid rivals Hambantota by 43 votes to 27 at the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) General Assembly in St Kitts last month and bid chairman Mark Stockwell has now been appointed chairman of the Organising Committee.

The Gold Coast 2018 bid chief executive, Mark Peters, who was also at the logo unveiling, is currently the acting chief executive of the Organising Committee and considered the favourite to fill the role on a permanent basis although there are said to be a number of high profile candidates in the running for the prestigious position.

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