What do the five Olympic rings represent?

The five interlocking Olympic rings symbolize the union of the five inhabited continents through the Olympic movement, reflecting the Games' goal of bringing athletes from around the world together regardless of where they come from. The design was created in the early 20th century as the modern Olympics grew into a truly global event.

The rings have nothing to do with founding host cities or a fixed set of original sports — the Olympic program has always included a changing mix of events, and the host city rotates every few years, so neither idea fits a symbol meant to represent lasting global unity.

The five ring colors plus the white background were chosen so that every national flag in the world at the time contained at least one of those colors, making the symbol feel inclusive of every competing nation.