Why do North America and South America have to share an Olympic ring?

Question

There are 5 Olympic rings. Each one is supposed to stand for one continent.
All the other (inhabited) continents get their own Olympic ring:
Africa - black
Europe - Green
Oceana - Blue
Asia - Yellow

North America and South America are two separate continents (some people like to say they are the same continent, which is ridiculous. just look at a map. they are obviously two separate landmasses. how europe and asia, on the other hand, get counted as two separate continents, is beyond me). Why should they have to share an Olympic ring (Red).
I think they should add a 6th Olympic ring so that each continent has their own. That would be much more fair.

Answer 1

I had never thought of that. I do think it wold take years of debating by the UN and lots of money changing hands to create another ring on the flag. Once they decide on adding a sixth ring, there would be a big fight over who keeps red and who gets ???
I think orange is the best choice but many would say it is too close to red and yellow which would leave purple as the only color of the basic colors that they could use. Pink would have a strong push but I don't like it.

My vote is purple even thought I don't like it.

I agree that sharing the ring is kind of dumb.

Answer 2

First off, there are several "models" for counting continents that range from as few as 3 to as many as 8

3 - Antarctica, Americas, Africa-Eurasia
8 - Antarctica, South America, North America Central America, Europe Asia, Africa Oceania

There are 5 continent models as well:

1. Antarctica, Americas, Eurasia, Africa, Oceania
2. Antarctica, South America, North America Eurasia, Africa
3. Americas Europe Asia Africa Oceania

But it's commonly thought that the 5 rings are intended to represent the 5 continents that are joined in Olympic competition. Unless I miss my guess, there' s never been a competitor from Antarctica, so the 5 rings represent:

South America, North America, Europe, Asia (including Australia) and Africa.

Lastly, the colors do NOT represent the continents. That's a common misconception.

"Pierre de Coubertin, the father of the modern Olympic Games, explains the meaning of the flag :“ The Olympic flag […] has a white background, with five interlaced rings in the centre : blue, yellow, black, green and red […] This design is symbolic ; it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism, while the six colours are those that appear on all the national flags of the world at the present time. ” (1931)Textes choisis II, p.470.Combined in this way, the six colours of the flag (including the white of the background) represent all nations.

It is wrong, therefore, to believe that each of the colors corresponds to a certain continent, they refer to flags of the world and their colors.

Answer 3

Never thought of that before!...Good Question!...And, I Completely Agree with You! There should Definitely be 6 Rings!!! ( Brings up another question...Who gets Red?...What should the Other color be? )

( The 7th Continent "Is" Inhabited - But the Skua Gulls & Penguins have yet to compete!... )

Answer 4

Great another American (USA)wah wah wah!! wanting something for themselves again. The world does not belong to only you even if you want to think so.

Answer 5

maybe b/c they are both "americas"??