⁠⁠The Olympics Rings: History, Design and Meaning

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The five interlaced rings of the Olympics symbolize unity among the world's continents, brought together by the common pursuit of athletic excellence.

1

A Global Symbol

The Olympic rings are the most recognizable symbol of the Olympics and represent the entire Olympic Movement.

2

Brainchild of the Founder

Designed by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic Games, the rings were first introduced in 1913.

3

Five Interlaced Rings

The symbol features five interlocked rings of equal size,  these rings are blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

4

Continental Unity

The five rings represent the five inhabited continents of the world at the time Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

5

Color Connection

De Coubertin believed that these five colors appeared on the flags of all nations, signifying global unity through the Olympics.

6

Flag Debut

The Olympic flag featuring the rings first appeared at the 1914 Pan-Egyptian Games in Alexandria, Egypt.

7

Olympic Games Debut

The rings made their official Olympic Games debut at the 1920 Antwerp Games in Belgium.

8

Official Definition

The specific design and colours of the rings were officially defined in the Olympic Charter in 1957.

9

Graphic Evolution

While the core design remained  the same, there were minor graphic adjustments made to the rings in 1986.

10

Timeless Symbol

In 2010, the Olympic rings returned to their original, slightly simpler design, solidifying their status as a timeless symbol.