Is it true that a certain part of the world corresponds to each Olympic ring?

It is generally accepted that each of the five colored rings on the Olympic flag is assigned a specific part of the globe. We checked if it was true.

Here's what about this is said in the article "Olympic Games" Big Russian Encyclopedia: “The Olympic movement has its own symbol, emblem and flag approved by the IOC in 1914 at the suggestion of Kuberten in 1913. The Olympic symbol is five interweaving rings of blue, black, red (upper row), yellow and green (lower row) colors that symbolize five parts combined in the Olympic movement (respectively - Europe, Africa, America, Asia, Australia). ”

Information about this can be read as in the media (RIA "News", "Tver Vedomosti"), and on the sites of various organizations (Olympic Council of the Tyumen region, Ingush State University, First St. Petersburg State Medical University). This statement is also widespread in printed literature (books "Five rings: ideas and morality" Vladimir Ageevts and "Green. Color history " Michel Pasturo). And in 2014 many We saw a catch The fact that at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Sochi it was the “American” ring that did not open.

On the one hand, the correspondence under consideration seems logical - for example, the nickname Green continent It has long been assigned to Australia. However, upon closer examination, it turns out that this nickname is common mainly in Russia and causes bewilderment among the Australians themselves - for example, in ambassador this country in the Russian Federation.

And indeed, why call green the most dry continent of the Earth, most of which is occupied by deserts? Perhaps here we are dealing with the opposite effect-one of the journalists gave the mainland the epithet “in honor” of the Olympic ring, and the nickname diverged through newspapers and books. Although the National flowers of the country are still green Enters.

On the other hand, it is obvious that the “black” Africa, “yellow” Asia and “red” America is a hint of the skin color of their population, which means that it smacks of racism. At least today, such consolidation at the official level cannot be represented.

That's what It is said About the symbol of the Olympic Games on the official website of the International Olympic Committee: “The Olympic Symbol consists of five interpreted rings of the same size (Olympic rings) used separately in one or five colors. In a five -flowered design, this is a weave - from left to right - blue, yellow, black, green and red. Blue, black and red rings are located upstairs, and yellow and green - below, in accordance with the following graphic image (Olympic Charter, rule 8).

The Olympic symbol personifies the activity of the Olympic movement and demonstrates the Union of five continents and the meeting of athletes from around the world at the Olympic Games (Olympic Charter, Rule 8). ”

The following is a quote from the founder of the modern Olympic movement Pierre de Cuberten: “These five rings personify five parts of the world, which are now subordinated to the cause of Olympism and are ready to accept its fruitful rivalry. Moreover, six colors connected in this way reproduce the colors of all peoples without exception. ”

In the latter case, the baron, obviously, had in mind the colors of the national flags, which is confirmed by his other quote, placed In the August issue of Olimpique magazine in the same 1913, when he submitted his proposal: “... six colors [including the white von flag], united in this way, reproduce the colors of each country without exception. The blue and yellow colors of the flag of Sweden, the blue and white colors of the flag of Greece, the three -color flags of France, Great Britain, the USA, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Hungary, the yellow and red colors of the flag of Spain, as well as the innovative flags of Brazil and Australia, ancient Japan and modern China are included. This is really an international emblem. ”

Thus, in official sources there is nothing about the binding of the colors of rings to parts of light or continents. Where did this statement come from? The thing is that in the official publication of 1950 "International Olympic Committee and Modern Olympic Games" (the so -called “green booklet”) of each part of the world really put a certain ring in line - exactly as it is given in popular sources. However, a year later, this part of the description of the Olympic symbol was removed from the reference to wording “There is no evidence that this distribution of colors corresponded to the original plan of Kuberten, at best, he could agree with him later.” Nevertheless, until 2014, on the logo of the Association of National Olympic Committee, the symbol of each continental association He was In the ring of the corresponding color:

One way or another, but we can confidently say that today the colors of the Olympic rings are officially not tied to certain continents. Moreover, nothing is known about such an idea Pierre de Cubertin. Finally it is worth noting that there are Options Olympic flag, on which all five rings are the same color (each of the six). And not one of them belongs to the Olympic Association of a particular part of the world.

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Olympic Charter