What does the five rings on the Olympic symbol mean?

Answer 1

five continents of the world

Answer 2

The 5 rings represent the 5 continents of the world at that time.

Sure we now recognize that there are 7 continents.

Just look at the U.S. flag, for example. It has 50 stars for each state and 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies. But back in 1776, the flag had only 13 stars and 13 stripes. As time passed and as new states were recognized, a star was added for each new state.

Back to the 5 rings. In theory, then, the Olympic rings should total 7 and not 5. There were only 5 recognized continents when the founder of the modern games came up with the idea of the rings: America; Europe; Asia; Africa; and Australia. America was not recognized as being two separate continents until later and Antarctica wasn't recognized as a continent until the 1950's.

(Why the two extra rings have not been added is another question all to itself.)

Answer 3

The Olympic rings represent the five different continents of the Olympic games (continents are not represented by one particular ring): Oceania Asia America (North America and South America) Europe Africa The rings are interlocking to show unity between the countries of the world and are designed so at least one of the ring colors is included in the flag of every nation. "These five rings -- blue, yellow, black, green and red -- represent the five parts of the world now encompassed by Olympism and ready to compete against each other. Moreover, the six colors (including the white background) thus combined represent those of all nations, without exception. The blue and yellow of Sweden, the blue and white of Greece, the French, English, American, German, Belgian, Italian and Hungarian tricolors, the yellow and red of Spain are side by side with the new Brazilian and Australian flags, the old Japan and the new China. It is a true international emblem." - Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

Answer 4

The olympic flag is comprised of each of the colors that are used in nation's flags around the world. THe five rings are all of different colors representing those colors and the white background represents the last of the 6 colors used. The symbol of rings is for the unity and "one-ness" that the event represents where no one ring is more powerful, yet they are all interdependent on each other.
Besides... there are SEVEN continents:
North America
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Australia
Antarctica

Answer 5

The five rings of different colors are you to symbolize a color from all of the flags of the world joined in unity. Not the five continents.
There are seven continents in the world not five. They are Asia, Europe, Africa, N. America, S. America, Australia, & Antartica

Answer 6

The rings stand for the 5 continents.

Answer 7

The emblem chosen to illustrate and represent the world Congress of 1914 ...: five intertwined rings in different colours - blue, yellow, black, green, red - are placed on the white field of the paper. These five rings represent the five parts of the world which now are won over to Olympism and willing to accept healthy competition.

Answer 8

I believe that it represents the 5 continents of the world. North America, South America, Europe, Asia and Australia

Answer 9

Each ring represents one of the continents of the world.

Answer 10

The Five Continents (There are no participants from Antarctica and the Americas count as one)

Answer 11

Does it not mean the five continents of the world, and the way they are arranged was to show them united