Tokyo 2020 Olympics has unveiled a shortlist of four new logo designs, after the original logo by Japanese designer Kenjiro Sano was abandoned following accusations of plagiarism (+ slideshow).

A new international design competition was launched late last year to design the logos for the Olympic and Paralympic games in 2020, after Sano's logo was scrapped by Olympic organisers amid claims of copying from the Belgian designer Olivier Debie.

The Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee has now whittled down a shortlist of four possible replacements from 14,599 submissions.

The committee said it has carried out rigorous checks to ensure the originality of the shortlisted designs and is "fully confident" in its selection.

"We have implemented a series of format and design checks on all entries, and have received the cooperation of design experts during the design checks," said a statement from the Tokyo 2020 Emblems Selection Committee.

"We have received written pledges from each of the designers of the shortlisted designs specifying that they are the original creators," it continued. "They have also submitted documents demonstrating the design production process used for their creations."

The four anonymous designs labelled A-D each have a variation that will be used to brand the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Design A offers two indigo chequerboard-patterned emblems, B a pair of primary-coloured loops, C has figures inspired by Japanese deities and D is based on a variety of flower called Morning Glory.

The selection committee is seeking public feedback on the logos through the Tokyo 2020 website, where further details of the design are available.

"The creators of each of the shortlisted designs have poured their hearts and souls into their designs, and we would like to ask you to provide us with your positive views on the designs, and particularly those design aspects that you feel are truly outstanding," said committee members.

Debie alleged Sano had used elements of a logo he created for the Théâtre de Liège in 2013, and took legal action over the similarities between the two designs. But the graphic designer recently abandoned the legal case against the International Olympic Committee due to escalating legal costs.

This is the second rerun of a design competition for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. In summer 2015 the late Zaha Hadid's plans for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics stadium were ditched by Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and later replaced with a Kengo Kuma design.

Hadid accused Japanese authorities and architects of colluding over the Tokyo 2020 Olympic stadium project, claiming that the replacement design shares "remarkable similarities" to her own – an accusation Kuma refuted.