The Olympic flag is made of 5 rings of colors interlaced on a white zone. The colors of the rings are blue, black, red, yellow, green the five interlaced rings represent the five continents linked by the Olympic ideal, and the six colors (by counting the white of the flag) represent all the nations because at least one of these colors is present in the flag of each country. Thus this Drapeau is the symbol of the universality of the Olympic spirit. The interpretation which associates with each color rings, a continent (blue represents Europe, the black Africa, the yellow Asia, the red America, and the green Oceania) is false. The six colors are representative of all the nations (Olympic cf article Games).

Conceived by Pierre de Coubertin, it was presented officially to the Olympic congress of Paris in June 1914. But it is only in 1920 with the Olympic Games of Antwerp that one will see it floating for the first time, because of the First World War, the Olympic Games of 1916, envisaged with Berlin, will not take place.

The baron Pierre de Coubertin explained itself: “The Olympic flag, one knows, is very white to it with, in the center, five rings intertwined: blue, yellow, black, green, red; the blue ring in top and on the left beside the pole. Thus drawn, it is symbolic system; it represents the five parts of the world linked by the Olympic ideal and its six colors in addition reproduce those of all the national flags which float through the universe nowadays. ” Coubertin, Texts chosen, II, p. 470,1931.

During the opening ceremony, the flag makes its entry in the stage carried horizontally by athletes. Then it is hoisted with a mast. As the Olympic flame which burns during all the duration of the plays, the flag floats in the stage until the closing ceremony during which it is lowered and given to the mayor of the organizing city of the following plays.