Beijing 2008 will be Games of the XXVIIII Olympiad

•The official emblem of Beijing 2008 entitled "Chinese Seal-Dancing Beijing" cleverly combines the Chinese seal and the art of calligraphy with sporting features, transforming the elements into a human figure running forward and embracing triumph. The figure resembles the Chinese character "Jing", which stands for the name of the host city and represents a particularly significant Chinese style.

Athens 2004 Games of the XXVIII Olympiad

•The 2004 Olympic Games emblem portrays an olive wreath, or kotinos, a branch from an olive tree intertwined in a circle. The emblem is a reference to the ancient Olympic Games, where the kotinos was the official award of Olympic champions. In addition, the olive was the sacred tree of Athens. The colors of the emblem symbolize the shades of white and blue found in the Greek countryside.

Sydney 2000 Games of the XXVII Olympiad

•The emblem represents the figure of an athlete, using typically Australian shapes and colors. The boomerangs and suggestions of sun and rocks, together with the colors of the harbor, beaches and red interior invoke the unique Australian landscape and its original inhabitants. The flash which transforms the silhouette of Sydney Opera House into a trail of smoke from an Olympic torch recalls the emblem of Sydney’s Olympic candidature.

Atlanta 1996 Games of the XXVI Olympiad

•The base of the torch mark logo, made of the five Rings and the number 100, resembles a classical Greek column and recognizes the centennial of the Games. The torch mark's flames gradually evolve into a perfect star symbolizing each athlete's pursuit of excellence. The gold color in this logo represents gold medals. The green represents laurel branches worn by winners in ancient times, as well as Atlanta's reputation as the City of Trees.

Barcelona 1992 Games of the XXV Olympiad

•The official emblem, designed by Joseph Maria Trias from Barcelona, depicted a dynamic human figure in a stance that suggested someone jumping an obstacle (which consisted of the five Olympic rings) and the simple, gestural lines reduced the characterization of the figure to the head (in the blue of the Mediterranean), the arms (the yellow of the sun and wide open in sign of hospitality) and the legs (a vivid red).

Seoul 1988 Games of the XXIV Olympiad

•The Seoul emblem features a samtaeguk pattern. A samtaeguk is a traditional Korean pattern and visual image which represents Korea. This pattern is widely used as decoration on fans, gates of Korean-style homes, artifacts, and folk crafts. The Olympic emblem features patterns in two forms, centripetal and centrifugal; the centripetal motion represented the people of the world coming together in Korea, thus symbolizing worldwide harmony, while the centrifugal motion represented a march onward in search of man’s lasting happiness and prosperity.

Los Angeles 1984 Games of the XXIII Olympiad

•The star is a universal symbol of the highest aspirations of mankind, the horizontal bars portray the speed with which the contestants pursue the excellence, while the repetition of the star shape connotes the spirit of competition between equally outstanding physical forms. The symbol colors - blue, white and red - were in part chosen for their traditional significance in the awarding of prizes for first, second and third place.

Moscow 1980 Games of the XXII Olympiad

•The official emblem was created by Vladimir Arsentyev. Above the Olympic rings we find parallel lines in the shape of a pyramid, and a five pointed star which serves as a reminder of the flag of the Kremlin.

Montreal 1976 Games of the XXI Olympiad

It is supposed to be a stylized maple leaf? Are the rings plummeting down the page? Is that supposed to be the letter M somehow? If it's not representational, it's a failure, as it certainly doesn't look pretty on its own. Sigh... it took me twenty years to figure out the Expos' logo, too.

Munich 1972 Games of the XX Olympiad

•It represents a crown of rays of light, a design symbolizing the spirit of the Munich Games- light, freshness, generosity, expressed by the design “Radiant Munich”. It was created by Otl Aicher, the designed and director of the visual conception commission. His project was chosen in spite of a competition whose 2 332 entries were unsatisfactory.

Mexico City 1968 Games of the XIX Olympiad

•It is a combination of the five Olympic rings and the year. The design came from the collaboration of three artists: Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, architect and President of the Organizing Committee for the Games, Eduardo Terrazas (MEX) and Lance Wyman (USA). It recalls the patterns of the Huichole Indians.

Tokyo 1964 Games of the XVIII Olympiad

•It is composed of the Olympic rings superimposed on the emblem of the Japanese national flag, representing the rising sun. Having examined a large number of proposals, the Games Organizing Committee chose the design submitted by Yusaku Kamekura which was subsequently accepted as the official emblem of the Games.

Rome 1960 Games of the XVII Olympiad

•It is made up of the Olympic rings above a Roman she-wolf, from which Remus and Romulus are suckling. They are the twin brothers who, according to legend, founded the city of Rome. Between them, is the date, 1960, written in roman numerals.

Melbourne 1956 Games of the XVI Olympiad

•It is composed of a drawing of Australia, with a torch and Olympic rings superimposed. In the bottom half, the inscription "MELBOURNE 1956", extended on each side by laurel branches.

Helsinki 1952 Games of the XV Olympiad

•It was composed of the tower of the stadium with the Olympic rings at the top.
•It was worn as a badge by the dignitaries and VIP guests at the Games.

London 1948 Games of the XIV Olympiad

•It is composed of the clock tower of the Houses of Parliament. The hands of the famous "Big Ben" are pointing to 4 o'clock, the time at which the opening of the Games was planned. In the foreground, the Olympic rings. The Games Organizing Committee wanted a typically English emblem, but one that would have significance not only for the generation of that time, but for future generations as well.

Berlin 1936 Games of the XI Olympiad

•It was created purely by chance- an artist started by designing an emblem containing the five Olympic rings with a superimposed eagle and the Brandenburg Gate, one of the symbols of the city. However, the President of the Games Organising Committee, Dr Lewald, was not satisfied with this composition and took the initiative to open the bottom part of the emblem, which turned the design into a bell.

Los Angeles 1932 Games of the X Olympiad

•It is composed of the American flag presented in the form of arms, accompanied, in the foreground, by the Olympic rings, the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" (faster, higher, stronger) and a laurel branch, symbol of victory.

Amsterdam 1928 Games of the IX Olympiad

•It shows a runner in action holding a laurel branch, symbol of victory. In the bottom part, wavy lines in red, white and blue represent the colors of the Dutch national flag.

Paris 1924 Games of the VIII Olympiad

•The main body of 1924 Paris Olympic Games emblem is a shield-shaped emblem of the city of Paris, with an old galley sailing on the sea, and words “Olympiad Paris 1924” and “ France Olympic Committee” on the top of it. Strictly speaking, this is the first emblem in modern Olympic history. Since then, the Olympic Games emblem and poster are used respectively.

Antwerp 1920 Games of the VII Olympiad

•It represents the flags of the participating nations all flying together. In the top right, the coat of arms of the organizing city. In the centre, a discobolus, a reference to the Games of Antiquity. In the background, the city of Antwerp with the Tower of Notre Dame.
•90,000 copies were made in 17 languages (large format).

Stockholm 1912 Games of the V Olympiad

•It represents the parade of nations, each athlete carrying a twirling flag and all going towards a common goal- the Olympic Games. The nudity of the athletes was a reference to the Games of Antiquity, although it was judged as too "daring" by some managers and not distributed in some countries.

London 1908 Games of the IV Olympiad

•It represents the Olympic stadium in Shepherd's Bush. Behind the high jump, in the centre, the swimming pool and cinder track.