Local vs. Universal
The Olympic event embodies a tension between two extremes. On one hand, it is a global event that symbolizes the connection of all nations and continents through sports and competition. The Olympics have a fixed ceremony, drawing strength from the historic games in ancient Greece, uniting the world. The five rings in the Olympic symbol represent the continents and their interconnection, with each ring intertwined with another. The primary colors of the rings represent cultural diversity and the rich anthropological mix present in the competition and intercontinental meeting.
On the other hand, the Olympics are a massive showcase of the host country. Hosting the competition brings international relevance and status. Thus, the host country often seeks to emphasize its presence and values, displaying visual imagery associated with it and local folklore to celebrate and promote its uniqueness. The Olympic logo merges the two, converging into a singular, integrated statement.
The Flame and the Olympic Torch
Fire symbolizes life, and is sacred in many cultures. In ancient Greece, the flame burned throughout the competition. It was reintroduced as a symbol associated with the games at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics, where the tradition of the torch relay began. Every Olympic year, the torch is lit in Athens and travels from Greece to the host city. The torch has also appeared several times in competition symbols over the years.
Flags and Buildings
A straightforward way to visually connect the Olympics with its location is through the host country's flag and the prominent symbols of the host city.
Famous buildings, such as Big Ben in London, distinctly link the competition to the city.
The national flag can appear in its entirety or as a hint, with elements woven into the logo. The flag's colors can also blend in and set the tone, painting the entire Olympics in national hues.
Movement
As befitting a global sports competition, the logo should evoke a sense of activity and convey a feeling of movement. One challenge for designers has been making a static and flat logo represent dynamism. Some symbols have used fragmented shapes and angled placement, such as the spiral in the 1972 Munich Olympics logo or the fragmented rectangles of Tokyo 2020.
Some logos have used lines of varying thickness and angles to create a sense of pull. Others have featured a running figure, with or without a torch, achieving an effect of quick movement with a few seemingly free strokes. The designers of the Rio 2016 Olympics logo created a sense of motion through depth.
Star
The star is a graphic element symbolizing prestige and quality, an achievement or distinction. It also marks a significant landmark; some atlases use stars to mark capitals, distinguishing them from other settlements marked with dots. The star can stand out, or appear in a sequence, indicating connection. Since many national flags boast stars, this element can also reference the host country.
Posters
Before the advent of Olympic logos, official posters were created and used extensively. Containing the visual elements mentioned, and presenting many other details through the use of illustration. The 1900 Paris Olympics poster, for example, depicted the Eiffel Tower, the city below it, and a golden coin with a figure above.
Connection to Ancient Greece
Linking the modern event to its historical roots is prestigious to the host country, connecting it to its source in Western culture. The parallel to ancient Greece clarifies that the host nation is another link in the chain of human history, following the light of Greek culture, which venerates the human body and victory.
The laurel wreath has been a symbol of victory since ancient times, adorning the statues of Greek gods and victorious generals. In ancient Olympic Games, the wreaths were a visual element with clear meaning, though laurel leaves were replaced by olive branches.
Since the games in ancient Greece, the olive branch has become a symbol of victory and connection to Olympic history, occasionally appearing in the logos over the years. The most prominent use the laurel crown was in the 2004 Athens Olympics logo.
The Olympic Rings
The Olympic logo itself appears within the competition symbols, blending with other elements. In recent years, it has remained unaltered in color, rather than being recolored to match the logo's graphic language, appearing in its original colors.
The Victory Emblem
Designing the Olympic emblem allows the host country to communicate with the thousands of athletes visitors coming to the event, and with millions of viewers worldwide. The emblem is a visual tool that can highlight the values of the host city and country, securing a place in the history of the Olympic Games.
This journey through the Olympic symbols over the years reveals the tension between nationalism and internationalism, between belonging and uniqueness. It lets us examine how each country chose to present its values, how they wished to be seen, and what they wanted to be seen in them. Even after 124 years, Olympic symbols continue to radiate power and, above all, victory.
