The Eternal Flame: Olympic Games as Mirrors of Human Aspiration
**Symbols and Structures of Unity**
The modern Olympics are distinguished by **enduring symbols** that transcend language barriers. The **interlocking rings**—designed by Coubertin in 1913—represent Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania, symbolizing global unity. Their colors (blue, yellow, black, green, red) were chosen because every national flag includes at least one. Equally iconic is the **torch relay**, introduced in 1936, which carries a flame lit in Olympia to the host city, embodying the continuity between ancient and modern traditions .