Nîmes Olympique, the French football club based in Nîmes and nicknamed Les Crocodiles, has used the crocodile as a central element of its visual identity for decades. The club’s crest has undergone two significant redesigns in recent years, both tied to supporter consultation and the club’s return to Ligue 1.
Design and History
In June 2017, Nîmes Olympique unveiled a new logo that the club said “marries the modernity of a clean design with our traditions while keeping the strong elements of our identity such as the crocodile and the laurels.”[1] The redesign drew immediate criticism from supporters, who launched an online petition and accused the club of ignoring its history without consulting fans.[2] The main supporter groups, Gladiators Nîmes 1991 and Nemausus 1993, called for a boycott of season ticket sales and merchandise bearing the new logo.[3]
After two weeks of tension, club president Rani Assaf conceded the logo would likely be abandoned within a year. The club agreed to launch a public call for logo proposals, with a selection to be voted on by supporters, and committed to returning to the historical crest with minor modifications if no agreement was reached.[3]
On 4 May 2018, as the club secured promotion to Ligue 1, Nîmes Olympique presented its new crest, created by the agency MGT Quidam after a year of preparation and public consultation. The design was developed in close collaboration with the club and supporters.[4] The new emblem retained the club’s colors (red and white), the crocodile, and the founding date of 1937, while also incorporating the arenas of Nîmes, a symbol of the city.[4][5]
Meaning and Symbolism
The crocodile is the emblem of the city of Nîmes and has long been associated with the club, which is nicknamed Les Crocodiles.[3] The historical crest featured a white crocodile on a red background.[3] The 2018 redesign kept the crocodile and the founding date of 1937 while adding the arenas of Nîmes as a city symbol.[4][5]
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