The five Olympic rings represent the five continents involved in the Olympics and were designed in 1912, adopted in June 1914 and debuted at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics.
The current view of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is that the symbol "reinforces the idea" that the Olympic Movement is international and welcomes all countries of the world to join. As can be read in the Olympic Charter, the Olympic symbol represents the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games. However, no continent is represented by any specific ring. -- Wikipedia
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A worker attaches an Olympics rings logo to a fence at the Royal Artillery Barracks, during final preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Rebecca Blackwell
A diver practices at the Aquatics Center at the Olympic Park for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. Opening ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics will be held Friday, July 27. AP / Matt Slocum
Australian duet synchronized swimmers Eloise Amberger and Sarah Bombell train at the Aquatics Center at the Olympic Park ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Michael Sohn
A diver enters the pool at the Aquatics Center at the Olympic Park ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Matt Slocum
Simon Springer dives in front of the London Olympic Logo during training at the London Aquatics Center on Wednesday July 25. ZUMA24.com / Imago
In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, swimmers practice in the pool at the Aquatics Center at the Olympic Park ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Matt Slocum
Balls rest in a basket inside the Water Polo Arena prior to the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Julio Cortez
Staff at the Aquatics Center add the finishing touches to the Olympic rings logo in the Olympic Park, London for the 2012 Summer Olympics on Wednesday July 25, 2012. AP / David Davies
Veins are seen on the horse Clifton Promise while mounted by New Zealand rider Jonathan Paget during training for the equestrian eventing competition in Greenwich Park at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / David Goldman
Footprints from a gymnast are seen on the floor during training session ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Julie Jacobson
China's Feng Zhe trains on the vault during a practice session ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Gregory Bull
Kohei Uchimura of Japan practices during a training session ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Julie Jacobson
Bagpipers play before the start of the USA/ France women's soccer game in a preliminary round of the 2012 London Olympics in Glasgow, Scotland, on Wednesday July 25, 2012. The U.S. won, 4-2. Los Angeles Times / Wally Skalij
Japan's Reiko Shiota watches the shuttlecock while warming up during a training session of the badminton competition for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in London. AP / Andres Leighton
A member of the Horse Guards Parade stands watch outside the Admiralty House at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. Beach Volleyball competitions are held at the historic Horse Guards Parade in downtown London. AP / Petr David Josek
Volunteers rest during a break at the Beach Volleyball venue at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Petr David Josek
Italy's Daniele Molmenti trains for the men's C1 canoe slalom at the Lee Valley White Water Centre at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Victor Caivano
The Malaysian men's cycling team trains for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. Opening ceremonies for the games will be held Friday, July 27. AP / Sergey Ponomarev
Germany's Rene Enders trains prior to the start of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Sergey Ponomarev
Volunteers arrive at Greenwich Park, the site for the equestrian and modern pentathlon events at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Markus Schreiber
A member of the South Korea women's handball team trains for the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Matthias Schrader
Jasmin Sternkicker, a physical therapist for the Germany Olympic team, runs past the basketball arena as she works out at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Charles Krupa
A police officer stands guard outside the Aquatics Center at Olympic Park before the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Patrick Semansky
A taxi cab passes an Olympic lane a central London Wednesday, July 25, 2012. AP / Charlie Riedel
A woman holds up a London Olympic gold medal for reporters at the Olympic Park, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Jae C. Hong
A couple stops in Battersea park near a barge holding the Olympic rings on the River Thames, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in London , the site of the 2012 Summer Olympics. AP / Eric Gay
The sun sets behind the Olympic Rings at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. AP / Ben Curtis
A member of a British army reserve unit jogs past the Olympic rings at the rowing venue at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in Eton Dorney, near Windsor. AP / Peter Morgan
A security guard rests in the shade near the Basketball Arena at the Olympic Park, Tuesday, July 24, 2012, in London. Opening ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics will be held Friday, July 27. AP / Jae C. Hong
Visitors stand in the entrance of the ExCeL Center ahead of the 2012 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 25, 2012, in London. Opening ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympics will be held Friday, July 27. AP / Charlie Neibergall
The Tower Bridge has the Olympic rings suspended from a top span and is washed in blue light to commemorate the London 2012 Summer Olympics. The Orange County Register / Bruce Chambers
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