Paris 2024 Olympics: What do the Olympic rings stand for?

The Paris 2024 Olympics are just around the corner. The iconic Olympic rings are a symbol of the Olympic Movement and represent the unity of athletes from around the world.

The rings were designed by Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the Modern Olympic Games, and have become a global representation of the Olympic Movement. The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal size, colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red (left to right), along with a white color background.

The colors of the rings were carefully chosen by Coubertin. These colors appear on the national flags of every country that participated in the Olympics at the time. This was a deliberate design choice meant to emphasize the inclusivity and diversity of the Olympic Movement.

So, what do the rings represent? In simple terms, they stand for the five continents of the world: America (combining North and South), Africa, Asia, Europe, and Oceania. The rings symbolize the unity of athletes from these continents coming together to compete and celebrate the spirit of Olympism.

In the words of Coubertin, the five rings represent the five parts of the world "now won over to the cause of Olympism." The rings are a powerful symbol of the Olympic Movement's mission to promote peace, unity, and athletic excellence.

---

What is the official Definition and Meaning of the Olympic Rings?

Definition

As per the Rule 8 of the Olympic Charter, the official definition is:

“The Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions (the Olympic rings), used alone, in one or in five different colors. When used in its five-color version, these colors shall be, from left to right, blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The rings are interlaced from left to right; the blue, black and red rings are situated at the top, the yellow and green rings at the bottom in accordance with the following graphic reproduction.”

Meaning

As per the Rule 8 of the Olympic Charter, the meaning is:

“The Olympic symbol expresses the activity of the Olympic Movement and represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.”