THB OLYMPIC FLAG The following information is quoted from a brochure titled "OLYMPISM" — "The International Olympic Committee emblem is composed of five interlaced rings, each of a different color: blue, yellow, black, green and red, and so placed that the blue ring is next to the flag pole. The other colours are in the following order: the yellow ring, slightly lowered and connecting the blue and black, and, in the same way, the green joining the black and red. Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who designed this emblem in 1913, explained its symbolism: " 'These five rings, blue, yellow, black, green and red, represent the five parts of the world which from now on belong to the Olympic Movement and which are ready to accept the fruitful rivalry it entails. In addition, the combination of the six colours (counting the white background) represents every nation 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 touching the new Brazilian and Australian, with ancient Japan and young China. A truly international emblem.' "This flag was made in the "Bon Marche" store, adjoining the birthplace of the Baron. "3 metres long and 2 metres wide, this flag bears in its centre the emblem of 2 metres by .60 metres. Prom now on, the flags which fly over the stadia will be of this format, although some will possibly have a fringe. "The Olympic flag made its first official appearance in 1914, in Paris, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of founding of the Modern Olympic Games (see next page). It was first hoisted in an Olympic stadium during the Antwerp Games in 1920. The motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (faster, higher, stronger), wrongly attributed to Baron de Coubertin, had been added. In fact, these words had been composed in the 1890's by a pedagogue, a friend of Coubertin, Father Didon, who early realised the importance of sport in the moulding of his pupils. This motto met a happier fate than conceived by its author, since the Olympic Movement took it and spread it throughout the world. "The flag, the rings, and the motto are the exclusive property of the International Olympic Committee, and may not be used without its approval. Of course, their use for commercial purposes, of any nature, is strictly forbidden. One of the duties of the National Olympic Committees is to enforce this rule." Reference: International Olympic Committee. "Olympism," a brochure. Imprimerie Louis Couchoud S.A., Lausanne, Switzerland 1972, 56pp -- Page 7 -- Travis. L. Land states the following on the subject of the flag's first usage: "The original flag appeared for the first time in public at the Stadium of Chatby in Alexandria, Egypt, on April 5, 1914, on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the revival of the Olympic Games of the modern era. "After its appearance in Alexandria, the flag was presented to the I.O.C. on June 14, 1914, at the time of its session in Paris, but there was no public display. The flag flew again at the Games of the VIIth Olympiad at Antwerp in 1920." Further quotations from Mr. Land's article follow: "Read this excerpt from a letter written by Otto Mayer, Chancellor of the I.O.C., written in May 1958 (after the official flag had been adopted): 'Two months ago only, I discovered what we considered to be the original flag, which hangs in our museum, was a copy of the original one. ...As you know, last year I made a considerable investigation of all we possess (invitations, cards, programs, flags, etc.), those given out by Baron de Goubertin since 1913. It is amazing to find that once the interlacing was so and once different. That shows that de Coubertin himself did not seen to attach a very great importance to this problem. ...Altering once again what we decided, seemed to be rediculous (sic) towards the public opinion, and after all, should the rings be interlaced that way or another does not seem to make any difference so long as one method is used.' " An article by Edvin Lundell is now quoted: "In 1914 Baron de Coubertin made a proposal to the International Olympic Committee of the creation of the Olympic rings as an emblem for the Olympic Games. The emblem was also used on the Olympic flag. The proposed flag should have five rings, of confirmed colors, on a white ground. The rings representing the five continents as follows: blue-Europe, yellow-Asia, black-Africa, green-Australia, and red-America (see No.67 of the 1972 Munich section for a label which assigns a continent to each ring - such designations are believed to be unofficial). "The official flag presented to the I.O.C. by the Belgian Olympic Committee at the Olympic Games in Antwerp in 1920, now travels from one Olympic location to another and hangs in the City Hall of the city where the Games were last held. "The Congress in Sofia, Bulgaria, in Sept. 1957 has again definitely adopted the interlacing of the rings, since in recent years different models existed. "When comparing the ring models in sports philately, one finds different ways the rings were interlaced. More stress should be laid upon a right carrying out of the project. The proportion between the outside and inside ring diameter, as well as the proportions of the distances of the centers - vertical & horizontal - should be mathematically fixed." References: 1. Travis L. Land. "Olympic Week Recalls History of the Five-Ring Symbol of the Olympics." Published in Western Stamp Collector (now Stamp Collector) of October 20, 1959, p.8 2. Edvin Lundell. "Olympic Rings in Sports Philately." Published by American Topical Association, in Topical Time. September - October, 1958, p.229 -- Page 8 --