The Olympic Games are the main event in the world of sports, which brings together athletes from all over the world, it is a unique and largest event on the planet. For many athletes, these competitions are life itself. However, the Olympics are not only a competition between athletes but also a presentation of the country on the international stage. It is at this event that both the sporting development of a nation and its cultural peculiarities can be demonstrated.
Every time the organizers try to surprise and delight the audience by doing something that has never been done before but will be remembered for decades. At the same time, the flight of fancy strictly corresponds to the requirements of the Olympic Committee.
One of the main attributes of the Olympic Games is their symbolism, which includes the flag, coat of arms, motto, fire, and medals. In this article, we will look at the history of the Olympic symbols and the meaning of each symbol.
Olympic Flag
One of the most recognizable symbols around the world is the five Olympic rings, and its uniqueness lies in its simplicity. The rings are arranged in a W-shaped order. Their colors (from left to right): are blue, black, red, yellow, and green.
Who came up with this ingenious emblem? In 1913, Pierre de Coubertin, the initiator of the modern Olympic Games, suggested using a white flag with five rings as a symbol of the event. Seven years later, at the Games in Antwerp in 1920, the flag was already painted over the Olympic arenas. By the way, that flag is kept in the Museum of the Olympic Games, which is located in the Swiss city of Lausanne.
According to the Olympic Charter, the symbol represents the unity of the five continents (Africa, Europe, South and North America, Asia, Australia, and Oceania) and the meeting of athletes from all over the world during the Games.
However, there is another interpretation of the Olympic Rings. According to it, the idea of 5 multicolored rings is taken from the psychologist Carl Jung. During his fascination with Chinese philosophy, he combined the symbol of greatness and vital energy (circle) with 5 colors reflecting the types of energy – water, wood, fire, earth, and metal.
In 1912, the psychologist also introduced his image of Olympic competitions – the modern pentathlon:
- swimming – water element, blue color;
- fencing – fire element, red color;
- cross-country – earth element, yellow color;
- equestrian sport – wood element, green color;
- shooting – metal element, black color.
Olympic Emblem
The emblem of the Olympic Games changes depending on the place and time of the Games, but the recognizable logo of five rings symbolizing the parts of the world remains unchanged. It is a symbol of unity and healthy sports competition, mutual respect of participants.
The appearance of the first emblem of a specific Olympic Games is controversial. In 1924, the French developed a graphic symbol for the competition in Paris but refused to use it on posters and posters. Most scholars agree that the first Olympic emblem was created for the 1932 Olympics held in the United States. However, some believe that, within the rules of corporate identity, the first emblem was the emblem of the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.
Olympic Coat of Arms
The Olympic Coat of Arms is the more traditional and historical symbol of the Olympic Games, which also contains the image of the five Olympic rings. But in the case of the coat of arms, the rings are complemented by images of a torch and a laurel, as well as the Olympic Motto, which reads “Citius, Altius, Fortius”, which in Latin means “Faster, higher, stronger”.
Olympic Motto
So, as we mentioned above, the official motto of the Olympic Games is “Citius, altius, fortius”. Literally, it means “Faster, higher, braver”. However, the more common translation is “Faster, higher, stronger”. The word was coined by Henri Martin Dideon, a priest from France, and Pierre de Coubertin proposed it as a motto in 1894, while it was first presented to the public during the 1924 Olympics in Paris. On July 20, 2021, at the 138th IOC session in Tokyo, the new Olympic motto was approved – “Faster, higher, stronger – together” (Latin “Citius, altius, fortius – communis”).
However, the Olympic Games also have an unofficial motto, which reads “The main thing is not victory, but participation”. Its history is connected with the tragedy of the runner Dorando Pietri, who was disqualified at the 1908 Olympics in London because of the help he received at the finish line, even though he did not ask for it. Despite the disqualification, a member of the royal family presented the Italian athlete with a gold cup for outstanding achievements in marathon running during the awards ceremony.
Olympic Oath
The Olympic Oath, the text of which was also developed in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin, was first recited in 1920 in Antwerp. Since then, it has become a major tradition. Thus, one of the host country’s best athletes swears an oath of honesty on behalf of all competitors before the start of the games. The same ritual is performed on behalf of the judging committee. The referee swears an oath of fair and unbiased judging. Later, coaches also joined in.
However, In 2017, the IOC changed the regulations regarding the Olympic oath. And At the XXIII Winter Games held in PyeongChang 2018, the three oaths were combined into one to shorten this stage of the opening ceremony. A representative from each of the three groups recited the phrases: “On behalf of the athletes,” “On behalf of all the judges,” and “On behalf of all the coaches and officials.” After that, one of the athletes voiced the text of the general oath.
The text of the oath has changed several times over time, with the last change being made in 2021.
Olympic Anthem
The Olympic Anthem is a musical composition written by the Greek composer Samaras Spyros. It is played during the opening ceremony of the Olympics, as well as after the end of the Olympics and on several other occasions. The Olympic anthem was first played in 1896 at the opening ceremony of the first modern Olympics in Athens, Greece.
As a rule, the anthem is sung in the official language of the host country, but there have been exceptions — instrumental versions, and the versions sung in two languages: Greek and the language of the host country.
Olympic Flame
The Olympic Flame is another important symbol of the Olympic Games, which has now become inextricably linked to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic Games.
The Olympic flame was first lit during the games in Amsterdam in 1928. The flame is initially lit on the ruins of a temple in Greece. Then a multi-day relay begins, during which the flame is passed from athlete to athlete and spread across five continents. The flame must arrive at the Olympic venue on the opening day of the Olympics. The athlete lights the flame of the Olympic bonfire from the torch he has brought.
The Olympic Torch Relay was first held in 1936 on the eve of the Summer Games in Berlin, Germany.
Olympic Mascots
The Olympic Mascot is another integral part of the identity of the Olympic Games. Each country, in which these competitions are held, chooses its own mascot. As a rule, it is some animal, however, not always.
The Olympic mascot first appeared at the Winter Games in Grenoble in 1968. It was a figure of a skier named Schüss (the name coincided with the name of a type of downhill skiing).
In 1972, the concept of “Olympic mascot” was officially established, and the first universally recognized mascot of the Summer Games was the dachshund Waldi, who met the participants and guests of the Munich Olympics. According to the IOC decision, the mascot can be an image of a person, animal, or fairytale creature. The procedure for selecting a mascot is not regulated, the decision is made by the organizers of the Games.
Olympic Medals
And, of course, the thing that athletes from all over the world train for for years – Olympic Medals. These are the awards given to the winners and medalists of the Olympic Games. The first medals were presented at the Athens Olympics in 1896 and depicted Nike, the goddess of victory.
The winner receives a gold medal. The second-place winner receives a silver medal and the third-place winner receives a bronze medal. The medals are awarded at a special ceremony after the competition. The winners are placed on the podium in accordance with the places won. Flags of the countries whose representatives are the winners are raised. The anthem of the country, whose representative is the owner of the gold medal, is played.
Today, medals are made of metals of different colors – gold, silver, and bronze, and they depict legendary architectural and artistic monuments of the country where the Games are held.
Conclusion
The Olympic symbolism is not just a set of signs, but a symbol of unity and peace. It embodies the spirit of the Olympic Games and inspires people to reach new heights in sports and life in general. Each symbol has its own meaning, which carries with it the history and traditions of the Olympic Games.
In the long history of the Olympic Games, the symbols have changed several times. For example, at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, a new logo was introduced that depicted a dove of peace with the Olympic rings in its beak. In addition, at every Olympic Games, the design of the medals and torch also changes slightly to reflect the culture and traditions of the venue.
Moreover, there have been curiosities associated with Olympic symbolism. For example, in 1972, the Japanese city of Sapporo was preparing to host the Winter Olympics. At the rehearsal of the opening ceremony, one of the attentive spectators noticed that the rings on the flag were not in the same sequence as specified in the Olympic Charter. The members of the International Olympic Committee were confused: it turned out that this flag had been used at the Olympics since 1952.
