What does the Olympic motto sound like? Olympic symbols

The motto of the Olympic Games consists of 3 words in Latin: Citius, Altius, Fortius! But few modern people know this dead language.

What does the motto of the Olympic Games sound like in Russian? "Faster, higher, stronger". This simple phrase perfectly reflects the essence of the Olympics, the spirit of competition and the desire to win. But where did this motto come from?

Competitions in Ancient Greece

First, it’s worth talking about the Olympics in general. The Olympic Games have very ancient roots. Their very name refers to the ancient Greek gods. In fact, this is not the only reason why the Olympic Games are called. They were held in the settlement of Olympia, where the sanctuary was located. The stadium, located near the Temple of Zeus, could accommodate 45 thousand people. The Olympic Games in Greece were very different in spirit from the modern Olympics, which were a product of Western civilization with its ideals of tolerance and politeness. We should not forget that no matter how far the countries of Europe are from religion, the modern world has been shaped by Christianity with its call to mercy. Ancient Greece was a pre-Christian world. And for all the height of her culture, philosophy, ethical ideals, her mentality was harsh, as in the entire ancient world.

The Olympics in Ancient Greece were a harsh and even bloody spectacle. Not all athletes survived fist fights or chariot races. Why did these young, healthy people, with their whole lives ahead of them, take such risks? The ancient Greeks had slightly different values than our contemporaries. Victory in the Olympic Games was the key to... immortality! The Hellenic religion did not involve an afterlife. Although it included ideas about the dark underground kingdom, Tartarus, these ideas were gloomy and not encouraging.

But it was possible to overcome one’s own mortality thanks to fame. The hero lived through the centuries - in songs composed in his honor, in sculptures. Victory brought glory not only to the winner. Just as athletes now defend the honor of the country, so in Ancient Greece they fought for the honor of the city. City-policies were autonomous; they are often called city-states. There was only one winner in each competition. There were no silver or bronze medals. All the losers returned home in disgrace. Sometimes losing was considered worse than death.

Another interesting aspect of the ancient Olympics was that participants competed completely naked. Only men participated there. Women could, for example, enter their chariots for competitions, but did not drive them themselves. By the way, the word “gymnast” comes from the word “gymnos” - naked. The bodies of athletes inspired poets and sculptors. Not only their will and courage were praised, but also the perfection of their bodies. True, public nudity also provoked homosexuality.

Women and the Olympics

Oddly enough, unmarried girls were allowed into the stadium as spectators, but married women were not allowed in on pain of death. Violators were thrown into the abyss.

Did women's competitions exist in Ancient Greece? Yes, they were too! They were called the Heraian Games - in honor of Hera, the wife of Zeus. Unmarried girls competed in running. They did not have such severe competitions as men. They did not participate naked, but in a short tunic that exposed their right breast. Spartan women often became winners - in Sparta, girls trained equally with boys.

No records

It is unknown whether the Greeks had a motto for the Olympic Games. Of course, in ancient times many events had their own symbolism, usually ritual. And yet history is silent about this. Would the ancient Greeks have liked the motto of the modern Olympic Games? On the one hand, yes, their impulse for perfection and the will to win were no weaker, if not stronger, than those of modern athletes. On the other hand, the Greeks had no such thing as a record. They only compared the achievements of athletes in one competition, but not the results of past Olympics. And this is no wonder, because they had no timers or stopwatches, or cameras capable of recording movement down to a split second. Moreover, it did not correspond to their philosophy.

Creation of modern competitions

The history of the motto and symbols of the Olympic Games sends us back to completely different centuries. All this happened relatively recently, if we compare these events with the times of Ancient Greece.

The motto and symbolism of the Olympic Games were adopted by Pierre de Coubertin. This French baron and public figure put forward the idea of reviving the Olympic Games, inspired by excavations at Olympia. In addition, not long ago France was defeated in the Franco-Prussian War. The Baron decided that one of the main reasons for the defeat was the poor physical preparation of the French. Therefore, it was a good idea to popularize the sport and give worldwide fame to the achievements of athletes. In addition, he hoped that sports competitions could partially replace wars and become a peaceful way to resolve conflicts. Unfortunately, reality has shown that the Olympics did not save the world from subsequent wars. But it became an excellent spectacle and an incentive for young people to pay attention to sports.

On November 25, 1892, Coubertin presented a project for games at the Sorbonne. In June 1894, the International Sports Congress in Paris approved the Olympic Charter. At the same time, the decision was made to hold the first Olympics of our time. It took place in Athens in 1896.

Two mottos

The motto of the Olympics was not invented by Pierre Coubertin himself. The French priest mentioned these three words in his sermon. Coubertin saw an excellent slogan in them and adopted them.

These words are stamped on all medals, as well as on the Olympic cauldron.

What is the unofficial motto of the Olympic Games? This one also exists. “The main thing is not victory, but participation” - this statement has become a catchphrase, which is said sometimes with mockery, sometimes with a sincere desire to console. Oddly enough, this motto also arose from a sermon. A Pennsylvania bishop said from the pulpit of St. Peter's Basilica that the Games themselves are better than the race and the reward. Pierre Coubertin liked this phrase, and later at a government banquet he said that in the Olympics it is important not so much to win as to participate. The history of the emergence of this phrase is not at all simple and it is connected with a specific case.

Hard Marathon

In 1908, the length of the marathon distance for the first time was 42 km 195 meters. Why not an integer? In previous years it was actually 40 km. However, when the Olympics were held in London, King Edward VII insisted that the route be changed to run past the balcony of Windsor Castle. This increased the distance and also complicated the task for athletes who were training to run exactly 40 km. Under the scorching heat that accompanied the 1908 Olympic Games, every extra 100 meters could be fatal. Italian Dorando Pietri almost reached the finish line first, noticeably ahead of his rivals. But, suffering from heatstroke, at the very end of the journey he became disorientated and ran in the wrong direction. The judges stopped him and showed him the way. But the athlete was exhausted and fell. They helped him up. The last 500 meters were painful - the runner fell 4 times, and each time he was helped to his feet. As a result, Dorando Pietri still came to the finish line first. But, on the initiative of the Americans, his victory was not counted, because the athlete accepted outside help. America had its own benefit - American John Hayes finished second, who was eventually awarded first place.

But, to be fair, Dorando Pietri’s will to win did not go unnoticed. By order of Queen Alexandra, the athlete received exactly the same winner's cup, only made of gilded silver. The losing winner became known throughout the world, and songs were even composed in his honor. It was these events that prompted the bishop to speak about the value of participation, which created the unofficial motto of the Olympic Games.

Symbols of the Olympics

Olympic symbols were developed and adopted later than the motto - in 1913. But the five rings are known everywhere. True, not everyone remembers what colors these rings are and why they are in those particular shades. There are blue, black and red rings on top, yellow and green on the bottom. They symbolize the unity of the five continents. The Olympic flag is a white cloth with a colored symbol of five rings on it.

Olympic ceremonies

The history of the motto, symbols and rituals of the Olympic Games is quite long and heterogeneous. The ritual developed gradually. What ceremonies are required at every game? Of course, the opening and closing of the Olympics. In the modern world these are bright and colorful shows. The most important ritual of the Olympic Games is the carrying of the Olympic flame. This fire is lit by women dressed as priestesses using a sun mirror. This takes place in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympics. Then the torch with fire is delivered to the venue of the games. It is usually carried by torchbearers who pass the baton to each other.

Olympics and Russia

The Russian Empire also had a chance to take part in the games. True, only a few athletes were nominated for the first few games. The team performed in 1912. It consisted of 250 people. The team was led by Grand Duke Dmitry Pavlovich, who participated in equestrian competitions. But in the following years, first the First World War, then the revolution, interfered. After that, the Soviet Union took part in the games. And he joined them late, only in 1952. But the Soviet athletes had excellent training. The USSR national team usually did not take lower than 2nd place in the overall standings.

The successes of modern Russia are not so impressive, and yet our country usually takes a worthy place in the overall standings, and a large number of athletes receive gold medals.

Slogan of the Sochi Olympics

In 2014, the Olympics took place in Sochi. And she had her own slogan. The motto of the Olympic Games in Sochi also consisted of three words: “Hot. Winter. Yours." This wording spoke of the intensity of passions at sports competitions, also hinting at the southern resort town, the timing of the Olympics and the fact that it was impossible to remain indifferent.

One of the most important attributes of the Olympic movement is the Olympic symbols, which include the Olympic symbol, the Olympic motto and the Olympic flag common to the movement as a whole, as well as the official emblems of national Olympic committees, the Olympic Games, host cities of the Olympics, candidate cities, and a number of so-called accompanying Olympic symbols: official terms, inscriptions, pictograms, talismans, etc.

The Olympic symbol (five intertwined rings) and the Olympic motto “Citius, altius, fortius” (Faster, higher, stronger), which together make up the Olympic emblem, proposed, respectively, by P. de Coubertin and his associate I. Dido, were approved by the International Olympic Committee in 1913.

Symbols common to the Olympic Movement are the exclusive property of the International Olympic Committee.

Olympic symbol

The first symbols of the modern Olympic Games originated in the Olympic Games of antiquity, for example the laurel wreath that crowned the winners, or the olive branch. They were replaced by the modern Olympic symbol. It consists of five intertwined multi-colored or single-color rings and represents the unity of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from all over the world at the Olympic Games. The intertwined rings are depicted in the following order: three rings at the top (from left to right) - blue, black, red and two at the bottom - yellow and green.

Olympic motto

The Olympic motto “Citius, altius, fortius” (“Citius, altius, fortius” - translated from Latin “Faster, higher, stronger”) expresses the aspirations of the Olympic movement. The author of the motto was priest Didon, the director of one of the colleges in France.

Olympic emblem

The Olympic emblem is a combination of five rings with some other element. For example, the IOC emblem is the Olympic rings combined with the Olympic motto “Faster, higher, stronger.”

National Olympic Committees of the countries of the world have their own official emblems, which are a combination of the Olympic symbol with some national distinctive sign.
Thus, the emblem of the Russian Olympic Committee includes a three-color image of a flame, reflecting the colors of the State Flag of the Russian Federation.

The official emblem of the Olympic Games consists of the Olympic symbol (rings) and any symbol of the city or state where the next Games are being held.
For example, the emblem of the Moscow Olympics, along with the Olympic rings, included a silhouette reminiscent of both the high-rise buildings characteristic of the architectural appearance of Moscow and the towers of the Moscow Kremlin crowned with five-pointed stars.

Olympic flag

On a white satin panel measuring 3x2 m, the Olympic symbol is depicted - five multi-colored intertwined rings. The white background of the flag, on which the rings are located, complements the idea of the commonwealth of all nations of the Earth without exception. The flag was first raised at the Olympic Games in 1920.

During the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games, a representative of the city hosting the Games hands the flag to the IOC President, who passes it to the mayor of the city hosting the next Olympics. The flag is kept in the city municipality building for four years.

Olympic flame

The lighting of the Olympic flame is one of the main rituals at the opening ceremonies of both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The idea of the Olympic flame, born from the sun's rays at the ruins of the Temple of Zeus in Olympia, and its delivery by torch relay to the Olympic stadium at the opening of the Games was born by Pierre de Coubertin in 1912.

The first ceremony of lighting the Olympic flame was held at the Games of the XI Olympiad in 1928 in Amsterdam, and at the Winter Games in 1952 in Oslo.

Typically, the honor of completing the relay race along the track of the Olympic stadium at the opening ceremony of the Games and lighting the Olympic flame from the torch in a special cup is given to one of the leading athletes of the country in which the Games are being held. At the opening celebration of the Moscow Olympics, the fire was lit by Olympic champion basketball player Sergei Belov.

Olympic Games mascot

The tradition of naming the mascot of the Olympic Games arose not so long ago.

Usually the image of an animal that is popular in the country hosting the Olympic Games is declared as a mascot. At the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City, the mascot was a jaguar, in Munich - the funny dachshund Waldi. The mascot of the Montreal Olympics-76 was a cute beaver, the Moscow Olympics - the brown bear cub Misha. At the 84 Games in Los Angeles, the mascot was the eaglet Sam, in Seoul 88 - the tiger cub Ho-dori, a traditional character from Korean fairy tales. In 1992 in Barcelona, the mascot of the Olympic athletes was the dog Kobi, a reliable sheep guard for shepherds living in the mountains of Spain.

December 18, 2014

It will soon be a year since the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Behind us are the hot battles for medals, the most exciting competitions, a colorful closing... But the motto of the Olympic Games is not forgotten. The words "Faster, higher, stronger!" for athletes all over the world they mean the desire for victory and new records. Where did this motto come from?

History of Olympic Games

Let's briefly look at how the Olympic Games came about. They come from Ancient Greece, where famous sports competitions were organized. On the Peloponnese peninsula, in the ancient sanctuary of Olympia, running competitions and races on quadrigas, i.e. light chariots harnessed to four horses, were held. They subsequently stopped.

They were resumed in the 8th century BC. e. The games were held once every 4 years, and at this time a sacred truce was established. The sports were long jump, running, wrestling, pankration, fist fighting, chariot racing, javelin and discus throwing, archery. The winner was crowned with an olive wreath. In his homeland, universal admiration and respect awaited him.

In 394, the Olympic Games were banned as pagan by Emperor Theodosius, who professed Christianity. They were forgotten for a long time.

Modern Olympic Games

The world owes the revival of the Olympic Games primarily to Pierre de Coubertin. In 1894, he convened the first meeting of an organization called the International Olympic Committee, at which he proposed making traditional competitions modeled on ancient Greek competitions. The first games were planned to be held in Paris in 1900, but, at the suggestion of the Greek poet Demetrius Vikelas, it was decided that they would be held earlier in Athens. This was supposed to symbolize the connection between the ancient and modern Olympic Games.

April 6, 1896 marked the beginning of the first Games of our time. King George I of Greece announced the start of the Olympics, then the Olympic anthem was performed. And from then on, the first traditions appeared. One is that the Games are opened by the ruler of the country that hosts the Olympics. The second is the singing of the Olympic anthem during the opening of the Games. And the third is holding the Olympics every 4 years, and in different places. This was the decision of the IOC in response to Greece's offer to always host the Games.

In 1924, the first Winter Olympics was held in the French city of Chamonix.

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The emergence of the Olympic motto

We all know very well what the motto of the Olympic Games sounds like. The words “Faster, higher, stronger” belong to Coubertin’s friend, the priest Henri Didon. It was with this expression that he opened sports competitions at the college where he worked. In Latin the expression sounds like “Citius, Altius, Fortius.” Coubertin liked this slogan so much that he proposed it as the Olympic motto back in 1894, at the first meeting of the newly created IOC. At the same time, the 1st IOC Bulletin was published, in the title of which was the now familiar motto of the Olympic Games.

It was officially presented only in 1924 at the Olympics in Paris.

The motto of the Paralympic Games is “Spirit on motion”. This expression symbolizes the fortitude of disabled athletes who have overcome physical illness and achieved great victories.

"The important thing is not to win but to take part"

This expression is the unofficial motto of the Olympic Games. Many believe that these words were spoken by Coubertin, but this is a mistaken opinion.

The appearance of the motto is associated with the Italian marathon runner Dorando Pietri. At the 1908 London Games, he was disqualified and stripped of Olympic gold because he was assisted at the very end of the race. Pietri, who was far ahead of all his rivals, was so exhausted that on the last stretch of the way he fell several times, and the judges had to help him get up.

Pietri's fortitude amazed everyone who saw these dramatic competitions. He received a special cup from the hands of Queen Alexandra. And the American Bishop Talbot, speaking at a sermon in London's St. Paul's Cathedral, said that there can only be one winner, but everyone can participate. This is the main lesson of the Olympics.

At the suggestion of Coubertin, this expression in a more aphoristic form spread throughout the world.

Other symbols of the Olympic Games

Over time, the complete symbolism of the Olympic Games has developed. And the motto became part of it. In addition to it, there is the Olympic flag, rings, fire.

As the history of the Olympic Games shows, it can be briefly said that most of the symbols appeared during the VII Summer Olympics in Antwerp (1920).

The Olympic rings, intertwined in a special way, symbolize the unity of the five continents. They show that the Games are worldwide. The author of the emblem is Pierre de Coubertin. He also proposed the Olympic flag - a white silk panel with the image of the Olympic rings.

By the way, the first flag hung over the stadium for only two days. And then he disappeared! A new one was urgently made, which was raised during the opening of the Games until 1988, before the Olympics in Seoul. And the mystery of the missing cloth was revealed only in 1997, when a centenarian sports veteran, American Priste, admitted that he had simply stolen it. Three years later he returned the flag to the IOC.

Very often, an image of an olive branch is used along with rings. This is also an echo of the Olympic Games of antiquity. Then an olive wreath was placed on the winner's head. Since then it has been a symbol of victory.

During the opening of the Games, one of the most respected athletes takes the Olympic oath on behalf of all participants to honestly fight for victory. And judges swear to judge objectively and fairly. This echoes the traditions of the ancient Greek Olympic Games.

Olympic flame

The tradition of lighting the flame of the Olympic Games also comes from Ancient Greece, where it was dedicated to the feat of Prometheus. It was revived in 1928. Long before the start of the next games, one of the main symbols is lit from the rays of the sun in the Temple of Hera in Olympia. Then the relay begins to transfer the Olympic flame to the Olympic venue. Participation in it is very honorable for athletes. After a long journey across all continents, the torch is delivered to the opening ceremony of the Games. It lights the Olympic flame, which symbolizes the opening of the Olympics.

Motto of the Winter Olympics in Sochi

Recently, each of the Olympics has had its own motto. Countries hosting the Games try to make them short and memorable. The motto of the Olympic Games in Sochi (2014) was “Hot. Winter. Yours.”

According to the organizers, this expression succinctly reflects the features of the Sochi Olympics. “Hot” is the intensity of passions among participants and fans, “winter” is the nature of the Games and the traditional idea of Russia as a frosty and snowy country, “yours” expresses the sense of belonging of everyone who participates in it or watches it.

Emblems and mascots of the Games

The modern Olympic Games are characterized by the fact that it has become a tradition for each Olympics to have an emblem that serves as a recognizable symbol of these particular Games. Along with them, talismans also appeared. Countries hosting the Olympics try to show their characteristics or use common cliché images of a given country. It is not surprising that the symbol of the 1980 Moscow Olympics was the Olympic Bear, which enjoyed enormous popularity even after its end.

The Olympics is a celebration in which peace and sport play a major role. The Olympic Games show that the countries of the world can compete not in who has how much money or weapons, but in sporting achievements. It is not for nothing that Olympic medals are a source of pride not only for the winners and record holders of the Games, but also for all residents of the country. As in antiquity, Olympic heroes become national heroes. And the Games held in the country are an excellent occasion for the unity of all its citizens.

Motto

The motto of the Olympic Games is "Faster, Higher, Stronger", which is a translation of the Latin expression "Citius, Altius, Fortius". The slogan was coined by French priest Henri Didon and proposed by Pierre de Coubertin when creating the International Olympic Committee in 1894 and introduced at the VIII Summer Olympic Games in Paris in 1924.

There is also an unofficial slogan: “The main thing is not victory, but participation.” It is also attributed to Pierre de Coubertin, but many assume this is wrong. This phrase is more often associated with the failure of marathon runner Pietri Dorando, who was disqualified due to outside assistance provided to him at the finish line. Help he didn't ask for. At the awards ceremony, one of the royal family members invited the Italian to the podium and presented him with a gold cup for his outstanding sporting achievement. On this day, the Pennsylvania bishop spoke the following words from the pulpit of St. Peter's Cathedral: “At the Olympics, the main thing is not victory, but participation.” Participation in the sense of empathy for an athlete who fought with all his might, but could not win.

Oath and anthem

Pierre de Coubertin also proposed reviving the Ancient Greek tradition of taking an oath of honor. He developed and proposed to the IOC its text, which reads as follows: “On behalf of all athletes, I promise that we will participate in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules by which they are held, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and in the name of honor of their teams." The first Olympic oath was taken at the 1920 Olympic Games. According to the Olympic Charter, the oath is taken by an athlete of the country where the next Olympic Games are being held, from a rostrum installed on the field of the Olympic stadium, near the banner of his country. The National Olympic Committee usually honors one of the outstanding athletes with the honor of taking the Olympic oath.

In 1968, at the suggestion of the USSR Olympic Committee, the IOC also included the Olympic Oath of Judges in the opening ceremonies of the Summer and Winter Games. It is pronounced by a judge from the country where the Olympic Games are held after the athletes have taken the Olympic oath. Its text reads: “On behalf of all judges and officials, I promise that we will perform our duties at these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules under which they are held, in the true spirit of sportsmanship.”

And the “youngest” Olympic oath is the coaches’ oath. Performed since the 2010 Summer Youth Games, it reads: “On behalf of all coaches and others around the athletes, I promise that we will conduct ourselves in a manner that promotes sportsmanship and fair play, in accordance with the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement.”

One of the main attributes of the Games is the Olympic anthem. It was written by the Greek composer Spyros Samaras. The lyrics were written by Kostis Palamas. The composer and poet were chosen by the first IOC President Demetrius Vikelas. The anthem was first played at the opening ceremony of the First Olympic Games in 1896. In subsequent years, until the Olympics in Cortina D'Ampezzo in 1956, the host country of the games instructed its musicians to write a new anthem for the Olympics. Since 1960, the Olympic anthem of Samaras was returned again, which was mainly performed in the official language of the country where the games were held. But sometimes an instrumental version, a version performed in Greek and various combinations were used. The translation of the anthem into Russian was made by R. Rozhdestvensky (Appendix 3) and was played, in particular, at the ceremony opening of the Games of the XXII Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 and the XXII Winter Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014.

Olympic motto

Olympic motto consists of three Latin words - “Citius, Altius, Fortius! " Literally this means “faster, higher, stronger!” (lat. fortis- “strength” can be interpreted not only as physical, but also as moral strength - perseverance, courage, etc. Thus, the translation “Faster, higher, braver!” is also possible.

The three-word phrase was first spoken by the French priest Henri Didon at the opening of a sports competition in his college. These words pleased Pierre de Coubertin, who believed that these words reflected the goal of athletes around the world.