2008 Olympics
The modern Olympics have been filled with a history and tradition that has been faithfully followed through time. But do you know what some of the traditions means? Let’s take a look at some of the main symbols of the modern games, from 1896 to the 2008 Olympics. The Olympic symbol: The intertwined rings of blue, black, red, yellow and green on a background of white. This is the symbol of the Olympics and is on the Olympic flag. When Frenchman Baron Pierre de Coubertin initiated the plan for a multi-country competition, he wanted to find a symbol that would show what that looked like. As he explained, the five rings symbolize the five continents. With the colors of the rings and the white background, at least one color in every country’s flag is represented. During the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, the flag is carried in by a delegation of athletes or citizens known for their positive influence. The flag remains raised throughout the Olympics, and is lowered to symbolize the end of the Games. The flag is then passed on to the mayor of the next host city.
The motto: As he shared his conception for the modern Olympics, de Coubertin was struck by a Latin phrase he heard from a friend: Citius Altius Fortius, which is translated to mean faster (or swifter), higher, stronger. This motto emphasized that the focus was on the drive for excellence, and not just on winning at all costs. The 2004 Olympics in Salt Lake City embodied this motto in their mascots. A snowshoe hare named Powder represented speed (faster) Copper, the coyote had the ability to jump (higher) and Coal, the American Black Bear, represented strength. The slogan: Each host city develops a slogan for that particular Olympics. For the 2008 Olympics, the slogan is 'One World, One Dream' which represents the theme for the Beijing Games. This theme is the ticket to capture a sense of harmony, friendliness, and progress. The 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics will have the slogan: 'Come Play With Us,' which represents a spirit of playfulness, trust and friendship. The mascot: Each host city also develops a mascot as a representative of their country and of the Games. In the Beijing Games, the five mascots, or Fuwa, represent playful friends and the most popular Chinese animals. Likewise, the mascots of the 2010 Vancouver Games include a sea bear, sasquatch and guardian spirit, based on native folklore. The Olympic flame: Possibly one of the most important and highly anticipated traditions of the Olympics is the arrival of the Olympic flame into the stadium and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. The torch for each Olympics originates in Olympia, Greece. It is lit by the sun and then brought to the host country, where it is taken by relay to the site of the Olympics and used to light the cauldron. The flame burns throughout the Games and is extinguished at the closing ceremony.
