The Olympic flag first appeared in 1920, and it has been used ever since. The flag has five rings, which are colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red. Every country in the world has at least one of these colors on its national flag. The five rings also represent five continents: Europe, Asia, Australia, Africa, and the Americas. Every ring on the flag is shown interlocking with one or two other rings symbolizing the sporting friendship of all the peoples of the earth.

 In more recent years, white doves have been released as the Olympic flag is raised. White doves are used as a symbol of peace.

The Olympic Torch is a very large part of the Olympic Games. The torch is first lit in the valley of Olympia in Greece, where the ancient games held originally. Relays of thousands of runners carry the torch to through several countries to where the games are being held. Occasionally, an airplane carries the runner and torch over mountains or over oceans. The last runner carries the torch into the stadium, around the track, and lights the Olympic flame. This occurs at the opening ceremony of the games. The flame burns throughout the two weeks of the games, until the end of the games at the closing ceremony. The tradition of carrying the torch from Olympia to the site of the Olympic Games started in 1936.