Appreciation of Design Works: Appreciation of Emblems from Various Olympic Games

Emblem of the 1896 Athens Olympic Games

Whether it was a century ago in 1896 or the upcoming year of 2004, Greece and Athens chose to use the olive branch, a symbol of peace and friendship, to express their supreme understanding and respect for the Olympic movement. In 1896, Athens pioneered the hosting of the first modern Olympic Games. Originally, the first Olympic Games had neither an emblem nor any posters. The image we see here is the cover of the report submitted by the Athens Olympic Committee to the International Olympic Committee, which was later used to represent this Olympic Games. The majestic Acropolis of Athens, the goddess Athena holding an olive branch, and the deeply embedded hoofprints are presented before the world. The bronze-colored relief of the Olympic emblem exudes a strong ancient Greek atmosphere. The inscription in the upper left corner, 776 BC - 1896, indicates the continuous relationship between the modern Olympics and the ancient Olympics.