Tracey Emin to design London Olympics poster

Tracey Emin, Howard Hodgkin and Bridget Riley are among 12 artists chosen to design posters for the 2012 Olympics. And judging by Emin's response, we can expect something quite different from the traditional offerings.

Dismissing the look of some earlier posters as "a bit Fascist", Emin told reporters yesterday: "I'm more interested in the party side of it, in the celebrations. It's not just about the Olympics. It's about showing the world how cool London is and what London has to offer."

Emin (pictured with London 2012 chairman Sebatian Coe) has chosen to relate her design to the Paralympics. She said it was important the artists' posters were recognisable as their work - "otherwise there would be no point - they could just have a graphic designer".

Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, who sat on the panel that chose the 12 artists from a long list of 100, said they were expected to produce work that was distinguished by "colour, vitality, energy and diversity".

He added: "Our best sports people are going to be competing at the Games. We want to show how strong British art is and has been for the past 20 or 30 years."

Making up the team of 12 are: Fiona Banner, Michael Craig-Martin, Martin Creed, Anthea Hamilton, Gary Hume, Sarah Morris, Chris Ofili, Bob and Roberta Smith and Rachel Whiteread.

Several of them are former Turner Prize winners or nominees, including Creed who won with a work that involved a gallery's lights being switched on and off.

Their poster designs will be exhibited at the Tate later this year and prints will be available for sale before the London Games open just over a year from now. ·