Month: February 2014

Swackett Fun Fact:  At the end of the Antwerp Olympic Games, the flag could not be found and a new Olympic flag had to be made for the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Swackett Fun Fact:   During each Olympic closing ceremony the flag was passed from the mayor of one host city to the next host, where it will then be taken to the new host and displayed at city hall for four years until the Opening Ceremony of their Olympic Games.

Swackett Fun Fact:   Through the 12 centuries of the Olympic Games, married women were not allowed to participate in, or to watch, the ancient Olympic Games. However, unmarried women could attend the competition, and the priestess of Demeter, goddess of fertility, was given a privileged position next to the Stadium altar.

Swackett Fun Fact:  After the First World War (1914-18) Nationalism was very strong and the tension between certain countries high.The universality conveyed by the symbol and the flag aimed to encourage world unity.

Swackett Fun Fact:   The 1924 flag continued to be used at the Summer Olympics until the Games of Seoul 1988 when it was retired.

Swackett Fun Fact:    It was not until 1920 in Antwerp (Belgium) that the flag and its five rings could be seen flying in an Olympic stadium.

Swackett Fun Fact:   The First World War prevented the Olympic Games from being celebrated in 1916 in Berlin (Germany) as planned.

Swackett Fun Fact:   Pierre de Coubertin presented the rings and flag in June 1914 in Paris at the Olympic Congress.

Swackett Fun Fact:   The colors of the rings on the olympic flag, from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and red were chosen because at least one of the colors appeared on the flag of every country in the world.

Swackett Fun Fact:   The interconnection of the five rings on the olympic flag symbolizes the friendship to be gained from international competitions.