At first glance, it is very easy to recognize which sporting event the symbol made up of colored rings refers to. becomes the protagonist of the Olympic party every four yearsas happened this year with the celebration of Rio 2016. Despite this, few people know for sure what the meaning of the famous symbol is, but below we will reveal details about the origin of its interesting history.
The Olympic rings are not as old as the Olympics created in Greece. This well-known symbol, made up of five rings in different colors, was included for the first time in the International Olympic Committee’s 20th anniversary celebration emblem. The idea of the committee founded in Paris in 1913, with the aim of reviving the spirit of the Ancient Olympic Games, was in charge of Baron Pier de Coubertin.
This association of countries was the beginning of the committee that we know today, and He is in charge of planning and supervising all the decisions concerning the modern Olympics. Initially, Baron Coubertin’s idea was supported by Russia, Sweden, New Zealand, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Hungary and Italy.
the olympic rings as we know them todaywere inspired by the logo of the French Union of Athletic Sports Societiescomposed of two rings in red and blue colors on a white background.
Baron Pier de Coubertin was in charge of giving the emblem an international meaning. As he explained in a communication prior to the meeting of the 20th anniversary of the foundation of the International Olympic Committee: ”the six colors, thus combined, represent all nations without exception. The blue and yellow of Sweden; the blue and white of Greece, the tricolors of France, England and the United States, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Hungary, the yellow and red of Spain with the flags of Brazil and Australia, and those of the old Japan and China”.
Coubertin’s explanation, regarding the need to represent in the emblem the nations that had the quality to compete in the eventleaves aside other interpretations that are commonly made and that affirm that each ring represents a continent.
In an article published in the magazine «Olympic Magazine” In 1922, the American historian Robert Knight Barney spread the true meaning of the rings, using as a basis the committee documents written by Baron Coubertin.
In the “Olympic Magazine” article, Knight Barney questioned: “If the true meaning of the rings was that of the continents of the world, why was Africa not mentioned? It was not until the 1950s that European entities in Africa began to evolve into independent countries.
The Olympic rings were first used on a flag for the Olympicsat the St.Moritz 1928 event. Since then, it has been a symbol present in one of the most important events on a world scale, which brings together athletes from different sports disciplines, belonging to the 106 active members and 33 honoraries from all the countries of the world.