Madrid's mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardon, on Tuesday presented the planned logo for the capital city's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games: a design which must now be approved by the Spanish and the international Olympic Committees.

A committee of experts chose the design: the work of Spanish-Argentine graphic designer Joaquin Mallo, after Madrid citizens had first chosen the top three designs from an initial nine available.

The logo -- a hand with each finger painted differently -- is intended as a symbol of unity representing all the people, nationalities, races and cultures that coexist in Madrid.

The hand has "a friendly personality. It is a welcoming hand," the mayor said, using both the Olympic colors and representing the idea of Madrid as multicultural.