The Olympic flag shows five interlocking rings representing the five inhabited continents of the world.

The longer version

Five rings interlocked on a white field stand for the inhabited continents, with the linking meant to show that competitors from everywhere meet in one event. The colours were chosen so that, combined with white, they appeared in the flags of every nation taking part at the time. No ring is assigned to a single continent in the official description.

The design was published in 1913 and first presented at the following year's congress; it was not used at the 1896 edition. Because it predates the modern expansion of the programme, the five-continent reading sits awkwardly with geography today, and polar regions are simply left out. The flag is a symbol of the movement rather than of any single host city.

Where this entry sits

Facts here look at the rules, equipment and odd histories behind familiar sports and games, from balls and rackets to cards, boards and playing fields. Expect small details about scoring quirks, stadium design and the long story of the Olympic Games. The full list sits on the Sports and Games page, where every entry is listed in order.