The Olympic rings are among the most recognisable logos in the world, yet their true origin is often misunderstood. While many believe the symbol dates back to Ancient Greece, it was actually created in 1913 by French Baron Pierre de Coubertin, co-founder of the International Olympic Committee.
Contrary to popular belief, the five colours—blue, black, yellow, green and red—do not represent specific continents. Instead, Coubertin designed the rings to include every colour found on the flags of participating nations at the time, with the white background of the flag also counting. He stated in 1913 that the six colours 'reproduce the colours of every country without exception.'
The rings were first unveiled at the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp, Belgium, but only gained global recognition ahead of the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Over time, the public has associated each ring with a continent, but the Olympic Charter dismisses this notion.
The Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, running from February 6-22, will feature the iconic symbol prominently. Fans can watch over 850 hours of action live on discovery+ via Prime Video.
