The myth of the Olympic Rings, created in 1916 by a Frenchman and inscribed at Delphi by Leni Riefenstahl for the 1936 Berlin Olympics,
“An especially beguiling myth is that the five interlocked Olympic rings—among the world’s best-known logos—were an ancient Greek symbol for the games. Several recent books include a photograph of a stone block from Delphi with the five rings inscribed on it. The books identify it as ancient and say that the five rings “later adopted as the symbol of the modern Olympics” create “a link between the ancient and modern Olympics” and are “considered by experts to be 3,000 years old.” More nonsense. The five rings were invented in 1913 by Pierre de Coubertin, president of the International Olympic Committee. There had been five modern Olympiads by that time, and Coubertin’s writings suggest each ring was intended to represent a completed Olympiad, the first five host countries united in “Olympism” and peace. Apparently he expected to add a sixth ring after Olympiad VI, to be held in Berlin in 1916, and so on, until there was a flagful of rings and “universal peace.” But Olympiad VI was preempted by World War I, so Coubertin gave the symbol a different official meaning: each ring represented one of the five continents of the world, united in Olympism (to Europeans, the “continents” number only five). Thus the logo froze at five and stays there today, a fossil of pre-World War I Europe, when hopes of world peace briefly flowered. How did the inscription of the five-ring logo come to be at Delphi? The infamous 1936 Nazi Olympics of Berlin provide the answer. Leni Riefenstahl filmed the 1936 Olympic torch relay as the flame moved from ancient Olympia toward Berlin for her acclaimed movie Olympia. For a scene where a torch runner circles the photogenic stadium at Delphi, a crude stone block was inscribed with the symbol of the five rings, and placed in the stadium. Years later American authors Lynn and Gray Poole observed the old movie prop in the stadium, mistook it for an ancient inscription, and published their error, which soon spread to other books, where it continues to mislead the unwary.”
http://www.archaeology.org/online/features/olympics/games.html
The opening sequence of "Olympiad" for the 1936 Berlin Olympics with music from a Rammstein video. Very creepy, who says the Olympics aren't political? First the Nazis now, China. Caution - Some nudity, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbUej2HRKaY&feature=related
two points.
Upon his death, Pierre de Coubertin’s heart was cut out of his body and burried in ancient Olympia. It now surrounded by a museum dedicated to the various modern games. The box his heart was trasported in is visible there. About 10x10x10 inches and lined with velvet. Been there and seen that. (nothing really with the whole flame thing but it is a neat link from the future TO the past) He left his heart in Ancient Olympia.
WE should not forget that runners did in fact relay run throughout the Greek City States to let all know it was time for the games again. They work the olive wreath headwear to indicate safe passage and purpose.
The flame is a new addition but the runner him/herself is not new.
This is a circus with no good guys on either side.