The Olympic rings were created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913 to combine colours found on national flags, not to represent five continents. Betting takeaway: the logo’s backstory won’t move medal markets, but expect higher novelty and opening-ceremony prop interest from casual punters and a short-term spike in host-nation engagement bets during Milano Cortina 2026.
Olympic rings origin: Coubertin’s 1913 design that became a global emblem
The five interlocked rings and the white flag background were conceived by French educator and historian Pierre de Coubertin in 1913. Far from an ancient Olympic symbol, the design aimed to reproduce the colours found across competing nations’ flags so every country could feel represented. Coubertin explained the scheme in the August 1913 Olympique, noting the combination “reproduce the colours of every country without exception.”
From flag colours to universal symbol
The rings first appeared publicly at the 1920 Summer Games in Antwerp and rose to widespread recognition by the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Over time the public began assigning continental meanings to each ring color, but the Olympic Charter rejects that interpretation: no ring officially represents a specific continent.
Debunking myths: not Ancient Greece, not continents
A persistent myth links the rings to Ancient Greece or claims each colour maps to a particular continent. That narrative was popularized mid-20th century by some writers but is historically inaccurate. The original intent centered on inclusivity via flag colours, not geographic symbolism.
Why the logo matters for Milano Cortina 2026
As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games draw attention, the rings remain a powerful message of unity and international sport. The emblem’s renewed prominence around opening-ceremony coverage will boost public engagement and nostalgia, reinforcing the Games’ brand rather than affecting competitive outcomes.
Implications for fans and bettors
The logo story is largely symbolic and won’t alter form-based medal markets.
However, heightened interest around the opening ceremony and host-nation pride can translate to increased novelty and prop betting volumes (ceremony-related props, viewer-category markets) and marginally more casual wagers on the host nation’s medal prospects.
Savvy punters should prioritise athlete form, discipline-specific trends and historical host-nation performance over symbolic narratives when staking money.
Legacy of the rings
Regardless of changing interpretations, the Olympic rings stand as a century-old emblem of togetherness in sport — a simple visual meant to reflect a global sporting community rather than a coded geographical map.
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The Olympic rings are iconic, but the true meaning behind the logo remains a mystery to some sports fans
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