The Olympic emblem, which consists of five interlocking rings, is one of the world's most recognisable symbols. However, there are some deeper undertones to the colourful picture.
When we think of the Olympics, a few things come to mind right away: athletes marching in during the opening ceremonies, proudly carrying their countries' flags; the dramatic awarding of gold, silver, and bronze medals to event winners; the torch and other memorable Olympic moments; and, of course, the Olympic rings.
The five interlaced Olympic rings are so common that you probably don't think about them much anymore. Given our understanding of rings as symbols of a continuing, unbroken commitment—wedding rings, for example—you might suppose the Olympic rings represent a similar emotion, but it's much more than that. Here is what the Olympic rings represent and the narrative behind their development.
Pierre de Coubertin, a 19th-century French historian, sociologist, athlete, and education reformer, is credited with inventing both the Olympic rings and the contemporary Olympics. In addition to working to make physical education available to French students in the same way that it was to English students, Coubertin organised the world's first Congress on Physical Education and Scholar Competitions at the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition, according to the International Olympic Committee. Five years later, in June 1894, Coubertin established the IOC and suggested what would become the modern Olympic Games, the first of which were held in Athens in 1896, followed by the 1900 Games in Paris.
Coubertin's idea for the Olympics began with elite athletes from all over the world gathering in one area to compete against one another. In the second edition of the Olympic Bulletin in 1894, he explained how the Games would cycle between different countries and why this was such an important component of the competition. "The genius of each people, its manner of holding the festivals and engaging in physical exercise," he said, "is what will give the modern Olympic Games their true character, and possibly make them superior to their ancient predecessors." It is apparent that Games staged in Rome will be very different from those held in London or Stockholm."
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The 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden, were the first to feature athletes from what was then considered the five continents: Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania (Australia and New Zealand), and a mix of North and South America. Coubertin, inspired by what had become a genuinely worldwide event, created the Olympic rings, which became the Games' symbol.
Since 1920, the Olympic rings have been used in both summer and winter Games, and they have stayed substantially constant. The only exception was a 1957 version that significantly expanded the distance between the rings. However, in 2010, the IOC opted to return to Coubertin's original design and spacing, resulting in the current edition of the Olympic rings.
Humans have historically used rings or circles as symbols, but the Olympic rings hold a unique value. For example, the five rings reflect the five continents that competed in the 1912 games. According to Rule 8 of the Olympic Charter, the Olympic emblem represents the activity of the Olympic Movement and the gathering of athletes from all over the globe during the Olympic Games.
Furthermore, the five interwoven rings must have identical diameters, symbolising the concept that all continents are equal during the Games. Finally, Coubertin stated: "These five rings represent the five parts of the world now won over to the cause of Olympism and ready to accept its fecund rivalries."
The symbolic meanings of colours might suggest that each colour in the Olympic rings represents something specific, such as a continent. However, this is not the case. Coubertin selected the six official Olympic colours—blue, yellow, black, green, red, and white (used in the background)—because when he unveiled the symbol in 1913, every flag of the participating nations could be replicated using the colours in the Olympic symbol. In his own words: “The six colours combined reproduce those of all nations without exception.”
There are currently seven "official" versions of the Olympic rings, as per the IOC. The preferred version shows the rings in all five colours on a white background. In instances where reproducing the rings in colour is not feasible, monochrome versions of the rings in each of the six official Olympic colours—blue, yellow, black, green, red, and white—are considered acceptable alternatives.
The IOC claims that there are now seven "official" versions of the Olympic rings. It should come as no surprise that the version with the rings in all five colours on a white backdrop is the most popular. Monochrome copies of the Olympic rings in each of the six official Olympic colours—blue, yellow, black, green, red, and white—are suitable substitutes, albeit, in cases when it is not possible to replicate the rings in colour.
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The Olympic rings have undergone subtle changes over time, as detailed by the IOC:
Also Read: Seven things to watch out for at the Olympic opening ceremony
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