Star news
What do the rings on the Olympic flag mean? The colors of the Olympic rings, the meaning of each ring
However, you are most likely interested in who invented the emblem " five olympic rings "? And what does she really represent? There are two versions that try to shed light on this mystery.
First version. This version was even recognized in the Olympic Charter. The fact is that he was directly involved in the origin of the symbol of the Olympic rings Pierre de Coubertin French citizen. It was his developments that served as the prototype for the emblem that was later depicted on the Olympic flag. This happened two years before the Belgian Olympic Games - in 1912.
These rings passing through one another form two rows. Bottom row consists of rings of green and yellow flowers, and the top one is red, black and blue.
The five rings represent the five parts of the world, each of which has a specific color. Green color represents the flowering and lush continent of Australia, yellow is given to Asia, because people there have yellow skin, and the land in many areas is covered with sand, red color went to America, because the aborigines there have skin with a reddish tint, black was given to Africa, because they live there savages with skin the color of ebony, Blue colour stands for Europe because people there consider themselves superior to others.
You need to understand that the two American continents were united into one continent, and no one took the Arctic and Antarctica into account at all, due to the lack of people there.
The emblem of five rings woven into one symbolizes the connection of five continents for the sake of sports competitions on a planetary scale, readiness for fair but serious competition, and a general sports spirit
Read also: the meaning of the Pacific symbol
Second version. This version is not so popular, but it is too early to write it off. Some researchers claim that the symbol of the five rings for the Olympic Games was invented by himself." great and terrible"psychologist Carl Jung. He was well versed in Chinese philosophy in which the sign of the ring denoted greatness, vitality and some mystical energy. The ancient Chinese believed that our universe is controlled by several energies: metal, fire, earth, wood and water. Carl Jung imbued with the spirit of ancient mystical Chinese philosophy, he decided to express these five energies on paper, while uniting them. So he drew the symbol that we now know as the emblem of the Olympic Games. Moreover, the psychologist in 1912 explained how he himself understood these sports competitions. Today they are called pentathlon. He was convinced that Olympic athlete you need to be versatile and master each of the five types of competitions - shooting, jumping, swimming, running and fencing.
In this case, the color corresponded to shooting was black, jumping was green, swimming was blue, running was yellow, fencing was red. Similar interpretation symbol focused on the achievements and abilities of a certain athlete worthy of being considered Olympic champion, and not on the planetary scale of sports competitions
Read also: the meaning of the Dove of Peace symbol
The use of the Olympic rings emblem is subject to strict regulation. It is prohibited to move rings from row to row or change colors. The International Olympic Committee constantly monitors compliance with regulatory standards.
Symbols of the Olympic Games video
White flag with intertwined rings - one of the most important characters Olympics. The emblem itself was invented back in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin. The symbol was first introduced in 1920 at the games in Antwerp.
If we talk about the flag itself, it consists of a white background and an emblem - 5 rings: blue, yellow, black, green and red. All the rings are intertwined and arranged in two rows: two on the bottom, three on top. The rings are connected together along a chain in the shape of the letter W. Each of the rings intersects with one (in the case of the outer ones) or two others (in the case of the central ones).
It is believed that the five Olympic rings mean the unity of the five parts of the world and the global nature of the event. They are meant to symbolize the revival of the sporting spirit, as well as the acceptance of healthy competition by various countries.
According to the International Olympic Committee, the main meaning of this emblem is that this movement is an international campaign. In addition, all countries of the world are invited to join it. It also symbolizes the gathering of athletes from different parts of the world.
There are different versions of interpreting the meaning of the Olympic rings by color. Previously it was assumed that each color corresponds to a certain part of the world. So blue was intended for Europe, yellow for Asia, black for Africa, green for Australia, and red for America. At the same time, the two American continents are presented as one whole.
Information about this definition of colors was posted in the official directory. But in 1951 it was removed due to the fact that there was no clear evidence that the creator of the symbol intended such a distribution of shades.
To this day, this version remains quite popular and can mislead many. It is generally accepted that the meaning of each color of the Olympic rings does not relate to any specific continent. And in fact, there are six main colors on the flag, since it is worth taking into account White background. All these colors are combined in such a way that they can represent the national colors of any country around the world. For example, there is red, blue and white - like in the Russian flag; white and red - as in Japanese; blue and yellow - as in Kazakhstan. To test this theory, simply imagine the flag of some country you know and see that its primary colors, or part of them, will be present in the Olympic emblem.
Now you know the meaning of the colors of the Olympic rings and what they symbolize, you can tell this interesting information to your friends while watching the next Olympic Games.
The symbolism of the Olympic Games is known to each of us. For example, everyone knows what it looks like olympic emblem, flag or how the anthem sounds. However, not everyone knows what exactly the rings symbolize, and therefore more on that below.
The symbolism of the Olympic Games is known to each of us. For example, everyone knows what the Olympic emblem, the flag looks like, or what the anthem sounds like. However, not everyone knows what exactly the rings symbolize, and therefore more on that below.
History of the Olympic emblem
Sports competitions were held between people thousands of years ago. Some of the first and most famous are Olympic Games that took place in Ancient Greece and Rome. After the disappearance of the represented empires, the competition was suspended. They were resumed already at the end of the 19th century (or, more precisely, in 1896) by Pierre de Coubertin.
The same man designed the Olympic rings, otherwise known as the emblem, in 1913. They are placed in the center of the Olympic Movement flag and represent 5 intertwined rings.
What do the rings look like?
They are arranged in 2 consecutive rows. Wherein:
- 3 of them - blue, yellow and black are located at the top;
- 2 – green and red – located in the bottom row.
The rings are connected into a single chain, representing the letter W. In this case, the outermost hoops (blue and red) intersect with only 1 of the remaining rings. The rings placed in the center are each with 2 other symbols of the emblem.
All about symbolism
The rings represent the union, the unity of the 5 parts of the world, as well as the worldwide orientation of the Olympic Games. At the same time, contrary to one of the most common versions, each of the symbols does not belong to any specific continent or part of the world. More on this below.
Thus, each of the 6 colors (together with the white background on the panel) are combined in such a way as to represent the national shades of all countries of the world.
In accordance with the International Olympic Committee - IOC - the fundamental idea of the emblem should be considered to root the idea that the Olympic Movement is an international campaign that unites everyone “under its wing”. Each country in the world can participate in this international competition. Including the Olympic Charter itself (a set of legal norms) indicates that:
- The Olympic rings are relevant because they symbolize the unity of the 5 continents;
- an additional interpretation of the emblem is a symbol of the gathering of athletes from all countries to participate in the Olympic Games.
A strict code has been developed regarding the use of the symbol presented. It must be followed by all international organizations, athletes and government officials in all circumstances. One of the brightest examples It should be considered that even if the Olympic hoops are depicted on a black or dark background, the ring of the presented shade cannot be replaced with an object of a different color. IN modern history Since the existence of the Olympic Games, there has not yet been a single case of violation of this norm. In extreme cases, the shade of the emblem is not significantly changed.
In the words of de Coubertin himself: “5 rings different shade intertwined with each other - blue, yellow, black, green, red. They are placed on a solid white field, reminiscent of the background of a sheet of paper. These 5 symbols represent each of the parts of the world. They are the ones on this moment“cultivate the desire for Olympism and are ready to accept healthy competition and wage a fair fight, conquering new heights.”
Interpretation of Carl Jung
Carl Jung, the most famous scientist of the 20th century, who lived at the same time as de Coubertin, proposed to perceive 5 rings as specific energies - earth, water, fire, wood and metal. It is they who are united in the symbol known today. In addition, in 1912, Jung proposed his own perception of the competition, which is also often called the pentathlon. According to him, an Olympian athlete had to be distinguished by his versatility. In this regard, he must be proficient in any of the 5 fundamental sports. It's about about swimming, fencing, jumping, running and shooting.
As part of this:
- swimming corresponds to a blue tint;
- fencing – red;
- jumping - green;
- running – yellow;
- shooting - black.
The presented interpretation of the emblem, however, does not focus attention on the international scale of the Olympic competitions. She focused her attention on the abilities and results of a certain individual who deserves to be called the winner of the Olympic Games.
Religious interpretations of the emblem
Deciphering the symbolism of rings from a Christian point of view is widely popular. It sounds like this:
- The black color symbolizes sin, which separates man from God. In this regard, scandals and intrigues occur even at the Olympics;
- red is the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross so that all sins would be forgiven;
- blue is the Holy Spirit, who dwells in everyone after baptism. It will give you the opportunity to achieve high results not only in sports, but in life in general;
- green symbolizes spiritual growth in the process of knowing the Lord;
- yellow is similar to a gold-plated Olympic medal and is a symbol of victory for peace and pacifism.
The most common inaccuracies in understanding the emblem
Until 1951, official sources claimed that the shades of the rings corresponded to different parts of the world. So, Europe is blue, Asia is yellow, Africa is black, Australia is green, and America is red. However, already at the end of the 50s, this certificate was deleted, since there was no evidence that de Coubertin intended such a distribution of shades.
In addition, another common misconception is that, as many believe, in the first years before the start of the competition, the rings were swapped with each other. Their location has remained unchanged since the creation of the emblem.
Thus, the presented symbolism of intertwined rings is a symbol of peace and unity of people in the name of a certain idea. It implies fair competition, partnership and striving forward to achieve new results.
What is the connection between the Olympics emblem and the English alphabet? It would seem none. Meanwhile, the arrangement of the rings corresponds English letter W (that is, World, the whole world, planet) - because the Olympic rings symbolize precisely the worldwide, planetary celebration of sports.
Meaning - hidden and obvious
Olympics! How many associations does this word evoke? Sports, peace, friendship, competitions, medals, a podium... But first of all, a flag with the image of five multi-colored rings pops up before your eyes. They are arranged in a certain sequence: the top row is occupied by blue, black, red, and the bottom row is occupied by yellow and green. The rings are intertwined and form a single whole.
Why five rings? Their number coincides with the number of continents on the planet. The Arctic and Antarctica are not represented; they are still being explored by humans.
- red was given to America (apparently in honor of the red-skinned Indians);
- black went to Africa;
- cool Europe is associated with blue;
- sunny Asia took yellow for itself;
- The "green continent", Australia, is indicated in green.
Whether this is what Pierre de Coubertin, the organizer of the revival of the Olympic Games, had in mind when he came up with their symbol, remains a mystery. Why are these colors preferred? Heraldry experts will note that the choice is by no means accidental. Let it be one color, but it is present on national flag any country. Just out of curiosity, you can check it out. Russian flag- not an exception. It represents the 3 colors of the Olympic flag: white, blue, red.
From time to time new versions of interpretation arise Olympic symbols. There is an opinion that the philosopher and psychologist from Switzerland Carl Gustav Jung was involved in the creation of the emblem. His idea is based on the mythology of the Chinese people, which tells about the unity of the five elements. In China, each of the natural elements has its own sport:
- swimming - Water;
- running - Earth;
- jumping - Air;
- shooting - Fire;
- fencing – Metal.
And the number five is the pentathlon, the classical pentathlon. At the dawn of the Games, it was believed that an Olympian should be the best in not just one sport, but in several.
Like everything legendary, this amazing emblem attracts with its mystery, and it is possible that the world will learn many more interesting things about it.
We can say with confidence that the five Olympic rings symbolize:
- equal rights for countries and athletes (all rings are the same size);
- friendship of peoples (they are intertwined with each other);
- world sporting event (the same W with which this story began).
Rings older than the flag
The flag is a shrine to participants in the Olympic movement. A white silk cloth with embroidered multi-colored rings unites athletes from all over the world; it is solemnly carried out at the opening ceremony of the Games.
But the rings appeared before the flag. The Olympic Rings symbol was approved by the IOC in 1913, and the emblem debuted in 1914 in Belgium. World War I thundered - and in 1920, an Olympic banner decorated with rings soared over the Antwerp stadium: the VII Summer Olympic Games started. Since then, the flag has flown over sports facilities from the opening day of the next Olympics until its completion. In 1988, the first flag was replaced with a new one, and the “patriarch” is kept in the Swiss Olympic Museum.
The Olympic Rings symbol is protected by law. The Olympic Charter, adopted in 1894 by the International Sports Congress, prohibits:
- Change ring colors.
- Move rings from one row to another.
- Use the symbol as a product in commercial transactions (only with the permission of the IOC).
- The Paralympics do not use the Olympic Rings symbol.
- In 2014, at the Sochi Olympics, a technical glitch occurred during the opening ceremony: one of the giant snowflakes did not open and turn into a ring. TV viewers did not notice this - they broadcast a picture from the rehearsal. At the closing ceremony, the snowflake again “did not open” - this time in the interpretation of the participants of the mass ballet. After pausing for about five seconds, the living “snowflake” (to the laughter of the audience) quickly turned into a ring. Thus, an unfortunate technical error gave Sochi its own version of the symbol - with one unopened ring.
The image of the five Olympic rings is probably the most famous in the whole world. What makes it unusual is that the execution is very simple. Therefore, fans often sports competitions draw them on faces or even hair. The rings are depicted in two rows: the first has three, the second has two. Color solution from left to right - blue, black, red, yellow and green. This emblem was first introduced in 1920 at the seventh Summer Olympics, which took place in Belgium in the city of Antwerp.
Today there are several versions about where this image came from and what it means. Basically, everyone knows the following version: the rings symbolize the unity of the five continents. This theory was introduced by the well-known Baron Pierre de Coubertin in 1913. Up until 1951, everyone knew that a color belonged to a continent. Thus, Europe is symbolized by the color blue, black refers to Africa. America was the owner of red, yellow went to Asia, and Australia became the owner of green. But by the mid-twentieth century, many believed that these rings symbolized racial discrimination. Therefore, this distribution of colors was discontinued. But they began to say that each ring symbolizes at least one color of the country’s flag. And they began to symbolize the friendship of the peoples of the whole world.
There is another theory that these five rings were proposed by psychologist Carl Jung. He was interested in Chinese philosophy. And by combining two symbols of greatness and energy of life, which symbolizes a circle, with five colors, I got the following drawing. Where each ring denoted types of energy: wood, water, earth, fire and metal. In 1912, he began to hold this type of Olympic competition, like the pentathlon in our time. He believed that all participants in the Olympiad should be able to swim (blue color - water element), fencing (fire element - red), run over rough terrain (earth element - yellow). This also includes equestrianism (the color green is the element of wood) and shooting (black is the element of metal).
When athletes arrive at the Olympic Games, they have their own emblem, but the symbol of the five rings is always present on it. They can fit into any pattern because they are universal. Olympic committees also have their own emblems, but in them you can also see the symbol of the five rings.
