The Olympic Games have their own symbols, that is, the attributes inherent only in these competitions. Their goal is to popularize the idea of the Olympics. Any commercial use of the symbols is prohibited. The symbols are: the Olympic flag, emblem, medals, anthem, oath, fire, slogan, olive branch, talismans, fireworks.
The flag looks like a rectangular white cloth with the Olympic emblem embroidered on it. The first flag was used from 1920 to 1988 and is now kept in the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
The emblem consists of five intertwined multi-colored rings. Three rings are in the top row, two in the bottom row. They symbolize the unity of the five continents of the Earth.
The athletes who take the first, second and third places are awarded with gold, silver and bronze medals of the Olympic Games. In team sports, the same medals are awarded to all members of the teams that take the prize podium.
The anthem of the Olympics is performed at the opening ceremony of the games, their closing, as well as in some other, specially specified cases.
The oath is pronounced alternately on behalf of the athletes and on behalf of the judges. Athletes make a solemn commitment to fight honestly, without resorting to unlawful tricks. The judges, accordingly, vow to evaluate the performance of the athletes objectively and impartially.
The Olympic flame is lit in Greece on the territory of ancient Olympia. Then it (with the help of a special torch) is passed by relay race to the venue of the Olympics. After the solemn ceremony, this torch is used to light the fire in a special tank - the "Olympic bowl". From this point on, the games are considered open. After the end of the Olympics, the cup is extinguished, which is a symbol of the end of the games.
The slogan of the Olympics is the expression Citius, Altius, Fortius, which in Latin means "Faster, higher, stronger." The slogan was approved in 1894, and was first used in 1924.
An olive branch is presented to the winner along with a gold medal. This is a very young symbol, it came into use at the Athens Olympics in 2004.
The mascot of the Olympics is chosen by the host country. It can be some kind of local animal or other image.
Well, the Olympic salute (high throwing of the right hand) after the 2nd World War is not used because of the resemblance to the Nazi salute.
