The Symbols Behind the Olympic Games
With the increasing commercialism of the Olympics, sporting scandals, and political overtones, it is often hard to remember what the Olympic Games stand for. In reality, this iconic sporting event has a rich history of symbolisms to represent its ideals.
One of the most famous symbols in the world is the Olympic emblem: five interlocking rings in the colors of blue, yellow, black, green, red with a white background. As described by the founder of the modern Olympics, Pierre de Coubertin, the rings represent the five inhabited continents of the world, united by Olympism.
The emblem of the Games is also seen on its flag. This flag holds special significance as it is raised at the beginning of the opening ceremony and lowered when the Games close. As well, the flag is used by one athlete and one judge from the host nation to take the Olympic Oath. To remain true to the Games, the Oath is taken on behalf of others. It is an act to remind all athletes and judges to honor the spirit of the Games, without drugs and doping, and to abide by impartiality when judging.
Another iconic symbol of the Olympics is the Flame. The Olympic torch is ignited months in advance in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics. The torch is then relayed throughout the world in celebration for the upcoming Olympiad. Finally, the torch reaches the main stadium of the host city in order to ignite the cauldron centerpiece at the opening ceremony. This act officially starts the Olympic Games and is usually done with much fanfare and mystery as how the cauldron will ignite and who will be the last torch bearer. The flame burns bright for the remainder of the Games until it is extinguished at the closing ceremonies.
Finally, perhaps what distinguishes each Olympic Games from others is their chosen mascot. For most host countries, they pick a native animal to represent their country with a story or background describing the animal. And for some countries, they have even more than one mascot to support the theme of their particular Olympiad. A great example of weaving culture into the Games are the mascots for the Beijing Olympics.
Collectively, the Beijing mascots are known as FUWA or "friendlies". In keeping with tradition, these mascots represent animals important in the Chinese culture such as the fish, the giant panda, the Tibetan antelope, the swallow, and last but not least, to honor the Olympics, the flame. What makes the mascots memorable is that they each have a specific color as per the Olympic rings - truly tying the culture of the Chinese into the symbolism of the Olympics.
So next time you come across an Olympic symbol, remember that there's a meaning behind it all.
Related Tags: olympic symbols, beijing olympics, olympic traditions, olympic mascots, fuwa mascots
Mariam Ma is a writer for Olympic Blvd, a site that celebrates all things related to the Olympic Games. To celebrate the 29th Olympiad, check out the personalities of the Beijing Olympics FUWA mascots and buy FUWA dolls as souvenirs.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Canadiens Early Season Struggles
Inconsistency has reared its ugly head once again. After a shutout loss to the lowly New Jersey Devi - Mens Magazine in the Toronto Market
Magazines are wonderful things. They are able to explore their particular area of interest in more d - They Won the Lottery But Then Lost it All
We all dream about winning the lottery and every time we watch those balls spin we think about what - Manchester City Imploding
Life changed for Manchester City fans the minute their club was taken over by the ultra wealthy Oil - Different Types of Sports Water Bottle
If you are an athlete and there is a competition the next day, there are a lot of things to prepare. - Poker Supplies a Person Needs to Play
There are a lot of people all over the world that enjoy playing poker on a regular basis. There are - Data on NCAA Football 11 (XBox)
EA Sports has always been the pinnacle for sports video games. The Madden franchise for NFL football - World Golf Amateur Team Championship 2012
Golf is said to be the game of nobles. Over a period of time, the game has developed into a craze fo - Will "The Decision" Yield the Result? Lakers, Heat Seen as Likely Finalists
By far the biggest moment in the NBA offseason was the hour-long ESPN special in which LeBron James - The Evolution of the Game: Table Tennis
Table tennis was probably derived from the game "Royal Tennis," a popular diversion during medieval
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Rainbow, Brown And Brook Trout
Maine fishing has Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. Trout are an important part of fishing tradition. - Gymnastics Floor Music
Over the last decade or two, gymnastics as a sport has undergone considerable changes in the way it - Texas Holdem Blinds - Understanding Blinds In Texas Hold'em Poker
Posting blinds is a very important aspect of the betting structure of Texas Hold'em poker. It keeps - Indoor Mobility Scooters
Mobility scooters exclusively provide assistance to physically disabled people, who don't necessaril - Texas Holdem Tournament - Learn How To Run A Texas Hold'em Tournament
Texas Hold'em is a popular game, so next time you consider hosting a social function at your house w - The Nfl Channel And The Controversy Surrounding It
If you watch TV, and especially if you are a loyal spectator of the NFL Channel, you might have hear - Texas Holdem - How To Become Better At Texas Hold'em Poker
If you know the rules, if you know the game, if you know the odds, chances are you'll do well at pok - Essential Boxing Equipment For Every Boxer
When you are training to become a boxer there are a few very important pieces of boxing equipment th - Some Advice On How To Stay Motivated To Run
Staying Motivated to Run Do you have a hard time staying motivated to run? There are a lot of thing - NCAA: Three Good Coaches
There are coaches in each and every type of sport out there, and many of them are good at what they