convert

edition 2007

Introduction

The three main Olympic symbols.

The rings

Meaning of the five rings and flag — History of the rings and flag
suggested by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914 — Actual use of the rings
and flag in emblems.

The motto

Citius Altius Fortius: three Latin words to convey an ideal — The
Olympic creed, calling for personal excellence — History behind
the motto and creed.

The flame

Ritual of lighting the flame, using the torch and organising the
relay — First relay at the 1936 Berlin Games.

Part of the Games’ identity

Olympic symbols as part of the Games’ protocol — Other uses
of the rings and flag.

The Olympic values and symbols

Core values of excellence, friendship and respect — Transmission
through the symbols.

The Olympic symbols

edition 2007

Introduction

The

meaning

and the

values

of Olympism are conveyed by symbols.

Among these are the

rings

, the

motto

and the

flame

These symbols transmit a message in a simple and direct manner.
They give the Games and the Olympic Movement an

identity

The Olympic symbols

ClOse-uP Of The symbOls In The OlymPIC sTadIum

edition 2007

The

five rings

represent the

five continents

. They are

interlaced

to show the

universality

of Olympism and the

meeting of the athletes of the world

during the Olympic Games.

On the Olympic

flag

, the rings appear on a

white

background. Combined in this way,

the

six colours of the flag

(blue, yellow, black, green, red and white) represent

all nations

It is a misconception, therefore, to believe that each of the colours corresponds to a certain
continent.

Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, explains the meaning
of the flag :

“ The Olympic flag […] has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre: blue, yellow, black, green

and red […]. This design is symbolic; it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while
the six colours are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time. ” (1931)

Textes choisis, vol. II, p.470.

hIsTOry

Even though Pierre de Coubertin intended the Olympic
Games to be an international event from the time of their re-
establishment in 1896 in Athens (Greece), it was only at the

1912 Games

stockholm

(Sweden) that, for the first time,

the participants came from all five continents

. One year later,

1913

, the

five rings

appeared at the top of a letter written

by Pierre de Coubertin. He drew the rings and coloured them
in by hand.
It was also Coubertin who had the idea for the

Olympic flag

He presented the rings and flag in June

1914 in Paris

at the

Olympic Congress.

The First World War prevented the Games from being celebrated in 1916 in Berlin

(Germany) as planned. It was not until

1920 in antwerp

(Belgium) that the flag and its

five rings could be seen flying in an

Olympic stadium

The universality conveyed by the symbol and the flag was a new idea at the beginning

of the 20th century. Nationalism was very strong and tension between certain countries

was high. It was in this climate, however, that Coubertin proposed the symbol of the

rings which aimed to encourage

world unity

The Olympic symbols

The rings

edition 2007

use Of The symbOl

At first, the way the rings were interlaced was sometimes a little odd compared with what
we are used to today.

Nowadays, the Olympic symbol is subject to very strict

rules

. Graphic standards have been

set down, which determine, for example, the exact position and colour tone of each ring.
The use of the Olympic symbol in the creation of an emblem is also strictly regulated and
the emblem design must be approved by the IOC.
The Olympic symbol, flag and emblems are the exclusive property of the International
Olympic Committee and cannot be used without the IOC’s authorisation.
This symbol is among the most widely recognised symbols in the world !

The Olympic symbols The rings

whaT Is an OlymPIC emblem ?

It is a design featuring the
Olympic rings together with
other distinctive elements.

The National Olympic Com-

mittees  (NOCs)  and  Orga-
nising Committees for the
Olympic  Games  (OCOGs)
all  have  an  emblem  featu-
ring the Olympic rings.

a kanGarOO and an emu are ParT

Of The ausTralIan nOC’s emblem

The emblem Of The OrGanIsInG COmmITTee

Of The vanCOuver wInTer Games In 2010

edition 2007

A motto is a phrase which sums up a

life philosophy

or a

code of conduct

to follow.

The Olympic motto is made up of three Latin words :

fasTer — hIGher — sTrOnGer

These three words encourage the athlete to

give his or her best

during competition.

To better understand the motto, we can compare it with the Olympic creed :

The most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the fight ;

the essential thing is not to have won, but to have fought well.

Together, the Olympic motto and the creed represent an ideal that Coubertin believed in

and promoted as an important life lesson that could be gained from participation in sport
and the Olympic Games: that giving one’s best and striving for

personal excellence

was a

worthwhile goal. It is a lesson that can still be applied equally today, not just to athletes

but to each one of us.

hIsTOry

The three Latin words became the Olympic motto in

1894

, the date of the IOC’s creation.

Pierre de Coubertin proposed the motto, having borrowed it from his friend

henri didon

, a

Dominican priest who taught sport close to Paris.

The inspiration for the creed would come later, following a sermon given by the Bishop of

Pennsylvania,

ethelbert Talbot

, during the Games of London in 1908.

The Olympic symbols

The motto

edition 2007

The Olympic flame is one of the best-known features of the Games.

[see sheets “ The Olympic flame and torch relay ”]

From the moment the flame is lit, a very precise

ritual

is laid down :

–

The lighting

In memory of the modern Olympic Games’ ancient origins, the flame is
lit in

Olympia

(Greece) some months before the opening of the Games.

The Olympic flame can only be lit by the

sun’s rays

–

The torch

A new torch is created for each edition of the Games. Each relay runner

carries his or her own torch: it is the flame which is passed from runner
to runner and which cannot be extinguished.

–

The relay route

Carried by relay from Olympia to the host city of the Games, the fla-
me crosses different regions, countries and continents. The passage of
the flame announces the upcoming Olympic Games to the inhabitants
along the route and allows those following its journey to discover new
cultures and customs.

hIsTOry

The initial lighting of the flame in Olympia and the first torch relay took place in

the lead-up to the

1936

Games in

berlin

(Germany).

The Olympic symbols

The flame

edition 2007

The symbols associated with the Olympic Movement are now firmly embedded in the

protocol

of the Olympic Games and give rhythm and significance to its most important

moments.

The flag

has had a varied place in the ceremonial part of the opening and closing ceremo-

nies since

1920

. Initially, it was simply raised in the stadium.

Carrying

it into the stadium as part of the ceremony was introduced in

1960

at the Games

rome

(Italy). From

1971

, the decision to use

athletes

instead of uniformed cadets to

carry the flag has added a special element of surprise to the opening ceremony as many
distinguished sports people and individuals have been selected for this honour.

After its arrival, the flag is raised up the flagpole where it remains throughout the entire

period of the Games. When the flag is lowered at the closing ceremony, it signals the end
of the Games. Today, the tradition of transferring the Olympic flag from the mayor of the
host city of the Games to the mayor of

the next host city of the Games

also takes place at

the time of the closing ceremony, although this was not always the case.

The

arrival of the Olympic flame

in the stadium by torch relay is another great highlight

of the opening ceremony. With the lighting of the cauldron by the last relay runner, the
flame is transferred from the torch to the place where it will continue to burn for the entire
length of the Games. The flame is extinguished on the final day of the Games at the closing
ceremony.

Nowadays, the

Olympic rings

are one of the most easily identifiable visual images in the

world, and everyone immediately associates them with the Olympic Games. However, this
was not the case at first.

Below are some examples of how the

rings

and

flag

were integrated into the Olympic

Games :

–

winners’ medals

The rings appeared for the first time on the winners’ medals at the

1924 Games in Paris

(France). They quickly disappeared from the winners’ medals in

1928

when the IOC

selected a permanent design that highlighted a seated female representative of victory
and a winning athlete, but no Olympic rings. The only exception to the use of this

permanent design in the period between 1928 and 1976 was for the Equestrian Games
in

1956 in stockholm

(Sweden) where a distinctive medal that included the rings was

created. Since the

1976 Games in montreal

(Canada) the rings have regularly featu-

red on the winners’ medals of the Summer Games, used alone or with the Organising
Committee’s emblem. In the case of the Olympic Winter Games, the rings have appea-
red on the medals designed for each edition of the Games since

1928 in st moritz

(Switzerland).

–

Items and souvenirs

You can find the rings on many items and souvenirs made for the Games dating back to

the

1924 Olympic winter Games in Chamonix

(France).

The Olympic symbols

Part of the Games’ identity

edition 2007

–

stamps

The world of

philately

soon got to know the rings. They have appeared on stamps since

the

1928 Games in amsterdam

(The Netherlands).

–

Official posters

The poster for the Olympic Winter Games in

st moritz in 1928

was the first to fea-

ture the Olympic flag. For the Summer Games, it was not until the

1932 Games in los

angeles

(USA) that the Olympic rings appeared on an official poster.

The Olympic symbols Parts of the games’ identity

edition 2007

The values of

excellence

friendship

and

respect

are the foundation upon which the

Olympic Movement brings together sport, culture and education for the betterment of
human beings.

The three core values of the Olympic Movement, which are an inspiration both at indivi-

dual and organisational levels, can be defined as follows :

excellence

To give one’s best, on the field of play or in life. It is not only about winning, but also

about participating, making progress against personal goals, striving to be and to do our
best in our daily lives.

friendship

To build a peaceful and better world thanks to sport, through solidarity, team spirit, joy

and optimism. To consider sport as a tool for mutual understanding among individuals and
people from all over the world, despite the differences.

respect

To respect oneself, one’s body, to respect others, as well as rules and regulations, to respect

the environment. In relation to sport, respect stands for fair play and for the fight against
doping or any other unethical behaviour.

These three core values are conveyed through the Olympic symbols.

The

motto

embodies

excellence

by encouraging athletes to strive to do their best.

The

flame

symbolises

friendship

between peoples with the torch relay usually travelling

through different countries in the world.

The

rings

represents

respect

, bringing all nations and all five continents together without

discrimination. The principles shown are universality and humanism.

These symbols are much more than emblems and people should immediately be able to

associate them with fundamental values for sport and life in general.

The Olympic symbols

The Olympic values through the symbols

edition 2007

explore a little further…

design

an emblem for the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of your country. The

emblem you draw must feature some characteristics of your country and include the
Olympic rings. Then look for the real emblem (on the internet) and compare them!

Create

a symbol which, in your opinion, represents peace in the world thanks to sport. Do

a drawing, or make a collage or sculpture.

Think

of a motto which best sums up your character, or think of a motto for your family,

school or club. Explain the meaning of this motto.

find

examples of different rituals (past or present, in your country or elsewhere) performed

for certain occasions and draw up a list with a short description. Some examples could be
religious ceremonies or the annual celebrations of clubs or schools.

The Olympic symbols

seleCTIve bIblIOGraPhy

young readers

how well do you know the Olympic Games ?

Lausanne : Olympic Museum and Studies Centre, 2002

Teachers

Olympic Charter

Lausanne : IOC, 2004

IOC factsheets

Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad
http://www.olympic.org/common/asp/download_report.asp?file=en_report_1134.pdf&id=1134

Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games
http://www.olympic.org/common/asp/download_report.asp?file=en_report_1036.pdf&id=1036

Jim Greensfelder, Oleg Vorontsov and Jim Lally,

Olympic medals a reference Guide

Cincinatti / GVL Enterprises, 1998

Karl Lennartz, “ The Story of the Rings ” in the

Journal of Olympic history

, Vol. 10

December 2001 / January 2002, pp. 29-61

Karl Lennartz, Andreas Höfer, Walter Borgers,

Olympische siege medaillen - diplome – ehrungen

Berlin / Econ Ullstein List Verlag GmbH & Co KG, 2000

Olympic Review,

The Olympic values

Lausanne: IOC, April-June 2007