Why are there five rings at the Olympics? Olympic stories: five multi-colored rings on the Games flag

Some associate the appearance of Olympic symbolism with the psychologist Carl Jung, who is also considered in some circles to be its creator. Jung was well versed in Chinese philosophy and knew that the ring in ancient cultures was a symbol of greatness and vitality. So he introduced the idea of five intertwined rings - a reflection of the five energies that are mentioned in Chinese philosophy: water, wood, fire, earth and metal.

Along with symbolism, in 1912 the scientist introduced his own image of the Olympic competition - modern pentathlon. Any Olympian had to master each of its five events.

The first discipline - swimming - in the form of a blue ring also depicts the element of water and indicates the rhythm that holds the breath and allows you to move forward along the surface of the water, towards leadership.

The green ring - jumping - is an image of a tree and a symbol of the energy of the rider. He must have the ability to manage not only his own energy, but also the energy of the horse.

The next discipline is fencing, and it is represented by the fire element in the form of a red ring. This discipline symbolizes flair. The success of a fencer depends on the ability to sense the enemy and guess his movements.

The yellow ring represents the earth element and represents the discipline of cross-country running. It indicates perseverance and perseverance. A trail runner seems to leap through the elements, knowing when to slow down and when to pick up the pace.

The shooting discipline and unique properties of the metal are depicted by a black ring. Accuracy and clarity are needed here. The success of a shot depends not only on physical exertion, but also on the ability of cold thinking, with the help of which the shooter concentrates on the target and hits the target.

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What do the five rings symbolize?

Olympic symbols are what distinguishes games of this scale from other world competitions. It originated along with the entire movement and represents a whole complex of different attributes. Some of them are basic and unchanged, others change depending on where a particular Olympics is taking place.

The Olympic is represented by several attributes at once - an emblem, a flag, a motto, a principle, an oath, a fire, medals, an opening ceremony and a mascot. Each of them carries its own functional load and meets all the requirements of world-class sports competitions.

The emblem of the Games has been approved since 1913 and remains unchanged. It is familiar to everyone - five colored rings interconnected. It has been in effect since then, and was developed taking into account the ancient Greek Olympics. The five circles refer to the five continents that participate in sports competitions. In addition, every country must have at least one color that is represented on the Olympic rings. Therefore, the Olympic movement serves as a unifying factor.

The flag is no less important. It represents an image of the Olympic rings on a white cloth. His role is quite simple - the color of the world is white. And in combination with the emblem it turns into a symbol of peace for the duration of the Games. It was first used as a competition attribute in 1920 in Belgium. According to the rules of the Olympics, the flag must participate in both the opening and closing ceremonies. After the end of the Games, it must be handed over to a representative of the city where the next competition will be held in 4 years.

The motto of the Olympic Games is the Latin slogan: “Citius, Altius, Fortius!” Translated into Russian, this means “Faster, Higher, Stronger!” The role of the motto in the Olympics is to constantly remind everyone present why everyone is here.

The principle “The main thing is not victory, but participation” is an Olympic statement that appeared in 1896. The symbolism of the principle is that athletes should not feel defeated if they lose. Its goal is for the competition not to fall into depression, but, on the contrary, to find strength and prepare even better for the next Games.

The traditional oath used dates back to the 1920s. These are words about the need to respect your opponents and adhere to sports ethics. Not only athletes, but also judges and members of evaluation commissions take the oath.

Of course, one cannot ignore such a symbol of the Olympics as. The ritual dates back to Ancient Greece. The fire is lit directly in Olympia, then transferred to a special torch, which, traveling across the world, arrives at the capital of the Olympic Games. Fire is needed as a symbol to emphasize that sports competitions are an attempt to improve oneself, it is a fair fight for victory, and it is also about peace and friendship.

Medals are not only a reward, but also a certain symbol of the Games. They serve as a tribute to strong athletes and at the same time emphasize that all people are brothers, because Representatives of various nationalities meet on the podium.

The opening ceremony is a mandatory attribute of the Olympic Games. Firstly, it sets the mood for the entire two weeks ahead. Secondly, it is a demonstration of the power of the host country. Thirdly, it is the opening ceremony that is the unifying force. This is due to the fact that it requires a parade of athletes, in which future rivals walk side by side, shoulder to shoulder.

The changeable symbol of the Olympics can be called the Talisman. After all, a new attribute is developed for each competition. It must be approved by the IOC commission and selected from several proposed options. The one that is ultimately chosen is patented and becomes a symbol of the Olympic movement in a given year. The mascot must meet several requirements - reflect the spirit of the host country of the Olympics, bring good luck to the athletes and create a festive atmosphere. As a rule, the mascot is presented in the form of an animal that is popular in the country where the competition is taking place. In some cases, it can be made in the form of a fantastic creature.

Five rings are the international symbol of the modern Olympics, which was invented at the beginning of the 20th century. It is one of the ten attributes of the competition, including the fire, olive branch, anthem, medals, slogan, etc. The Olympic rings are depicted on a white flag fluttering over huge stadiums, often built specifically for the long-awaited sporting event.

Almost simultaneously with the revival of the Olympic Games in their modern version, which occurred at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the so-called Olympic movement appeared. Its founder was Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who also played a central role in the development of a new milestone in the history of the Olympics. The main idea of the movement was the complete alienation of international sports competitions from the political relations of the participating countries.

It was the idea of unity of athletes from all countries and their renunciation of the political situation in their native countries that formed the basis for the creation of the international Olympics. Five rings of different colors on white

The idea of using five rings as a symbol of the Olympic Games appeared more than 100 years ago. Back in 1913, the French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who resumed sports competitions, came up with a banner consisting of multi-colored rings placed on a white canvas. What do the Olympic rings mean? , not many of us know. By reading the article below, you can not only fill this gap, but also learn many interesting facts related to the history of these competitions.

What do the Olympic rings mean and their color?

Of all the existing versions, the most correct is the one that talks about the connection of each Olympic ring with a specific continent:

Blue . This color is associated with Europe: peace, harmony, constancy and wisdom. To be fair, it should be noted that the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin himself was crazy about all shades of blue (from blue to sapphire).
Black . The baron marked Africa with a black ring. Obviously, this choice was related to the skin color of the people living on this continent.
Red . The French aristocrat associated the color red with North America - the endless pomegranate canyons, and South America - the hot temper of the Latin peoples.
Yellow . This color is characterized by Asia: openness and a moderate state of mind. These are the characteristics that Eastern religious teachings are famous for.
Green . Despite the fact that Pierre de Coubertin never visited Australia, he associated this mysterious continent with the color green.

What color are the Olympic rings?

In the mid-60s of the last century, the anti-apartheid movement actively developed. Olympic officials urgently needed to do something about the black (Africa) ring.

New versions have appeared explaining the shades of the rings:

Feng Shui and esotericism. Each ring is associated with the elements of the Earth:
1. Blue- water.
2. Black- metal.
3. Red- fire.
4. Yellow- Earth.
5. Green- tree.
Pentathlon. The version that the Olympic Games can be characterized by five areas in sports:
1. Blue: team water polo, diving, swimming (breaststroke, freestyle, butterfly, etc.) and synchronized swimming.
2. Black: shot and discus throw, sports shooting, weightlifting.
3. Red: fencing, wrestling, boxing.
4. Yellow: athletics and, first of all, running over various distances.
5. Green: Pole vault, long and high.
Flag colors. The latest theory is that the palette of the flag of any state must contain at least one color, placed on the Olympic banner.

Attributes of the Olympic Games

Any mass movement has an ideology. The Olympic Games, which have well-known attributes, are no exception:

Flag. Five intertwined rings of different colors on a white banner. The white color characterizes the world, the rings represent the connection of athletes from different continents.
Motto. From Latin the Olympic motto is translated as: “ Faster, Higher, Braver" For some reason, the last word grated on Baron Coubertin’s ears, and he changed it to “Stronger.”
Competition principle. The founder of the games believed that the main thing is not the triumph of an athlete in sports competitions, but participation.
Oath. Athletes solemnly swear to adhere to the principles of sports competition, to defeat their opponents only in a fair fight.
Fire. The Olympic flame symbolizes peace on earth and friendship between all peoples of the planet.

Olympic Games mascots

It is impossible to imagine the Olympics without a mascot. This attribute first appeared at sports games in Mexico in 1968. Let's list the most popular characters:

Summer games. Oddly enough, the most popular symbols were dogs and wild animals. Other characters: bear, beaver, eaglet and many invented characters.
Winter Games. What animal is winter associated with? That's right, with a bear. Bears are record holders in the category of mascot of the Winter Olympic Games. We also note the leopard, raccoon, wolf cub and even fairy-tale gnomes.

Why are there mascots at the Olympic Games? First of all, this attribute allows you to create a festive atmosphere.

Among the many options, we highlight two main ones:

Spirit of the Olympic City. An animal or a fictional creature is chosen as a mascot, with which, in one way or another, the city in which the sports games are held is associated.
Finance. The sale of souvenirs, toys and similar things with the character's emblem bring the organizers a lot of money.

Ideology of the Olympic Games

The founder of the new wave of the Olympic movement, promoted two main principles for holding international competitions:

Physical health. As a teenager, Coubertin attended educational institutions in Great Britain. In them, he drew attention to the fact that all classes take place with a bias towards the study of Christian values and the development of physical fitness. Subsequently, he tried to introduce these disciplines in French schools. The physical health of humanity, and therefore the absence of disease, is an axiom forever associated with the Olympic Games.
World. Friendship between peoples is the second postulate of the Olympics. The IOC, during the Games, recommends that the opposing sides cease hostilities. It is understood that during the pause, country leaders will be able to find a peaceful solution to existing problems.

Funny moments

The most incredible events that happened during the Olympic Games:

At the games in Sapporo, Japan, the order of the rings on the Olympic flag was mixed up.
In 1980, representatives from many foreign countries were absent from the Summer Olympics. The Soviet Union was not slow in responding: at the next Olympic Games in the United States there was not a single representative from the powers of the socialist camp.
The longest games took place in Paris (1900) and lasted almost 6 months.
Starting with the competitions held in the Finnish capital in 1952, an unspoken sports competition began between the USSR and the USA.
The world saw the Olympic flag for the first time in 1920. The seven-year delay, since the banner was invented in 1913, is explained by the outbreak of the First World War in Europe.

Now you know what the Olympic rings mean - this is nothing more than a conditional connection of the five continents of the Earth into one whole. From now on, every athlete from anywhere on the planet, regardless of his social status, race and political views, can participate in the most prestigious competitions of our time. The holiday, which takes place every four years, promotes not only a healthy lifestyle and the desire to instill a love of sports, but also calls on humanity to live in peace and harmony.

Video about the organization of the Olympics in Sochi

Below is a video in which MGSU students formed 5 Olympic rings right next to the building of their institute:

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. One of the first and most famous are the Olympic Games, which 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 under all circumstances. One of the clearest examples is that even if 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 the modern history 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 of different shades are 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. It is they who are currently cultivating 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. We are talking 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 provide an opportunity to achieve high results not only in sports, but also 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.

When Pierre de Coubertin began to revive the Olympic movement, he understood the importance of symbolism in promoting the idea into the world. The word Olympus itself has a deep and multifaceted meaning. This is beauty, strength, universality, and divinity of an activity that develops both the human body and its spirit. He wove five multi-colored rings and unfolded them, thereby symbolizing all 5 inhabited continents, which is why they are different colors.

The mystery of Pierre de Coubertin

The symbolism of multi-colored rings is seemingly simple to read. The blue ring is Europe, the yellow ring is Asia, the black ring is Africa, the green ring is Australia, the red ring is America. This was written down in the charter of the Olympic Movement until 1951. But the founder of the Olympic movement himself did not say a word about what they mean. Although this looks strange, it cannot be an accident. This means that these colors contain an even deeper meaning than what lies on the surface. That’s why they removed the entry about the colors of the rings in the charter, leaving everything else unchanged.

The five multi-colored rings are the most famous symbol of the Olympic Games. It is constantly before the eyes of billions of people. And to give it an unambiguous interpretation means to belittle it by turning it into a motto. And, probably, Pierre de Coubertin understood this. The symbols are not readable or explained. They have a multifaceted meaning, which each person absorbs in addition to consciousness, and interprets as best he can.

The ring itself is a capacious symbol - infinity, closed on itself. This means that each continent is closed in on itself, but is somehow intertwined with other continents. And the Olympic Games are also some kind of future common cause for all humanity. This is why the Olympic rings are different colors and intertwined with each other.

Another symbol of the Olympic Games

The torch, which is lit from the rays of the Sun and then carried by a relay to the venue of the games, is also a multifaceted symbol. He is carried, and he establishes peace on the planet, reminding people of different races of some, not yet visible, future task of all humanity. After this fire of peace broke out in modern history, two world wars and many civil wars burned out until our time. He did not establish peace. But this idea lives on. It remains to clarify the task that he speaks to people about, and peace will be established on the planet, because wars between and within races will instantly lose their meaning. After all, the task is for all of humanity, it needs to be solved, and not destroy each other. We are intertwined by a common home - planet Earth. And it is already becoming so small, because humanity is growing out of it... Different colors of rings and a torch call us to something unprecedentedly beautiful, for which it is worth living and being human.

Symbols don't die

Pierre de Coubertin retrieved the idea of the Olympic Games from the depths of so-called pagan culture and revived it. And it has become so organically woven into our lives that this too cannot be an accident. This means that the time has come for this idea.

It is interesting that Coubertin called himself an ancient Frank who fell in love with the beautiful paganism of ancient culture. He said that he ceased to be a barbarian when he saw the gods on Olympus, because inexpressible beauty pierced all his feelings. The mind remained the same, but the essence of the soul changed.

The Russian artist and esotericist Nicholas Roerich advised Coubertin to take the ring for his idea. It is a fact. Maybe he helped choose the colors? After all, the meaning of the Olympic rings by color has a very specific meaning. Blue ring - divine thought; black - physicality; red - passion; yellow - sensuality; green - patient poise. The interweaving of these rings symbolizes a certain ideal human personality. True, in esotericism there are two more colored rings, i.e. one must have seven qualities. But esoteric roots are visible.

White flag background

But why are the Olympic rings of different colors on a white cloth? White color is a symbol of all things and purity. And any color on white is dominant, which is why in symbolism and heraldry there is a silver-gray color instead of white. Using a white background in symbolism and heraldry is very risky, because it seems to recede and protrude the symbol placed on it.

Thus, diversity is lost, and the symbol turns into a primitive motto. This did not happen with the flag of the Olympic movement, which is further proof that an artist who subtly feels and understands colors took part in its creation.

Conclusion

The question of why the Olympic rings are different colors will never find a solution. That's why it's a symbol, so as not to have a definite answer. And each interpreter will be right in his own way, and wrong in another. The symbol is perceived by the soul, and not understood by the mind.

Symbol of the Olympic Games

The Olympic rings have rightfully taken one of the most worthy places among the Olympic symbols. Five multi-colored rings, most often on a white background, intertwine and form a single whole, symbolizing a global sporting event. Five rings emblem

Hides the deepest meaning, which lies in the very concept of sport as such. It contains the idea of universal popularization of the Olympic movement, equal rights for each participating country, fair treatment of athletes, and healthy competition. The Olympic rings symbol made its debut at the 1914 Olympic Games, held in Belgium.

But who was the inventor of this symbol? What does it really mean? There are two main opinions on this matter.

According to one version, recognized even by the Olympic Charter, origin of the Olympic rings symbol usually associated with the Frenchman Pierre de Coubertin. It was on his initiative and development that 5 multi-colored rings were depicted on the Olympic flag. This happened in 1912. Intertwining with each other, they formed two rows. The top row consists of rings of blue, black and red, the bottom row of yellow and green. Number five symbolizes five parts of the world, each of which has a specific color. The blue color represents Europe, the black continent is Africa, the red is America, the yellow is Asia, and the green continent is Australia. The two American continents were considered as one continent; Antarctica and the Arctic were not taken into account. The interweaving of five rings into one means the unification of five continents in the name of competitions on a global scale, a common sports spirit, equality of countries and readiness for tough but fair competition.

Second version appearance of the Olympic rings, is not so well known, but at the same time cannot be prematurely dismissed. According to some reports, the symbol of the five Olympic rings was invented by psychologist Carl Jung. He was well versed in the field of Chinese philosophy, in which the sign of the ring signified a certain energy, vitality and greatness. According to Chinese beliefs, our world is governed by the energies of earth, water, fire, wood and metal. Jung personally proposed to designate five rings these energies and combine them into the symbol that we know today. In addition, in 1912 the scientist proposed his understanding of the Olympic competitions. Now we call them pentathlon. In his opinion, an Olympic athlete had to be versatile and master each of the five main sports - swimming, fencing, jumping, running and shooting. At the same time, the color blue corresponded to swimming, red to fencing, green to jumping, yellow to running, and black to shooting. This interpretation of the emblem focused attention not on the global scale of sports competitions, but on the abilities and achievements of a specific person worthy of being called an Olympic champion.

Use of the Olympic rings symbol subject to strict regulation. You cannot change colors or move rings from one row to another. Monitoring compliance with the regulations is carried out by the IOC.