The brightly coloured emblem, says Australia's Commonwealth Games Minister Jann Stuckey, has "been inspired by the Gold Coast's stunning beach side location, its iconic skyline, and the colours are representative of the coast".

Gold Coast 2018 chairman Nigel Chamier explained the design was a result of months of research and development.

"It has been a very exciting and thorough process and Gold Coast 2018 believes the emblem is an outstanding reflection of community sentiment and broader perception of the Gold Coast and its role as host city for the Commonwealth Games," he said.

The Gold Coast 2018 logo was unveiled at a special community event at Broadwater Parklands to mark five years to go to the Opening Ceremony

I must agree that the eye-catching logo does bring back fond memories of my last trip to the Gold Coast. That visit was in June 2011, when the city was bidding to host the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

Throughout the week, I had a very pleasant time in the sun-filled city following the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) Evaluation Commission as they inspected the bid before I headed with them for their next inspection of Hambantota in Sri Lanka, the Gold Coast's only rival for the 2018 event.

Later that year on November 11, 2011, I was sitting in the room in St Kitts and Nevis at the CGF General Assembly where it was announced that the Gold Coast were to be awarded the Games as they saw off outsiders Hambantota by 43 votes to 27.

Having followed their story so closely and got to know many of the superb people in the bid team and now Organising Committee, I must declare an interest in wanting them to stage a great Commonwealth Games.

They have all the tools in place with the stunning beachside city, one of Australia's major sporting destinations and a location where many world-class national and international athletes and teams visit for training camps.

The logo launch was coupled with the unveiling of a four metre tall Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Countdown Clock.

"The Countdown Clock signals that we are here, preparations are underway and we can't wait until the Commonwealth Games begin," Stuckey said. "It is also a way for locals to get involved and it will build momentum and excitement as we head towards the Opening Ceremony in 2018."

A four metre tall Gold Coast 2018 Countdown Clock has now been unveiled in the city

The unveilings certainly provide cause for excitement for the Gold Coast and a truly golden moment for beautiful city.

But as Chamier - by all accounts a highly capable Organising Committee chairman and likeable character - received the special honour of unveiling the Gold Coast 2018 logo to the world, I could not help but feel more than a little sympathy for his predecessor Mark Stockwell.

A former swimmer, who won three medals at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympics, Stockwell was someone I got to know well when he served as chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 bid team.

He proved an inspired choice because his former career as an elite athlete ensured he had all the tools for the fight against the dark horse that was Hambantota.

In those final days and hours at the CGF General Assembly in St Kitts and Nevis, I remember watching him lobby the voters masterfully (and legally) and despite his obvious tiredness due to a clear lack of sleep, he always had a smile and was a pleasure to talk to.

It was primarily he, as the energetic driving force, that saw the Gold Coast secure the 2018 Commonwealth Games and in the press conference that immediately followed the announcement in St Kitts and Nevis, I asked him if he would like to be chairman of the Organising Committee - just reward for his part in leading the successful bid I thought; and I was not the only one.

"You will have to ask Anna that one, Tom, as it's her decision" he replied, pointing to his immediate right at Anna Bligh, the then-Premier of Queensland, who had also played a significant role in the bid.

I duly asked Bligh, who replied with a smile "Only if he dances well tonight [at the Gold Coast 2018 victory party]."

The response was clear sign of how close the pair had grown in leading the bid together and that relationship was fundamental to its ultimate success.

Mark Stockwell (right) played a crucial role in helping the Gold Coast secure the 2018 Commonwealth Games alongside former Premier of Queensland Anna Bligh (left)

Stockwell was formally appointed chairman of the Organising Committee just over a month in a decision that was disputed by no one.

But things turned sour just a few months later in March 2012 when Bligh was crushed in the Queensland State election by Campbell Newman and retired from politics.

The new Government were clearly not pleased that Stockwell had been put in place by Bligh, despite widespread support from all the other stakeholders, and it was rather sad if seemingly inevitable to see him unceremoniously ejected in May last year as Stuckey said rather cruelly that it was time to "transition to a Board that has the confidence of the Government, the [Australia] Commonwealth Games Association, and the public".

Up until Newman's Liberal National Party (LNP) came to power, Stockwell had the overwhelming confidence of all three.

At special times like this for Gold Coast 2018, with the unveiling of the new logo, the beginnings shouldn't be forgotten.

Those beginning will forever be synonymous with Stockwell and his bid team, who were responsible for creating the rock solid foundations for the successful event the Gold Coast Organising Committee will almost certainly produce in five years' time.

Tom Degun is a reporter for insidethegames. To follow him on Twitter click here.