The five interconnected rings were designed in 1912, by one of the founders of the modern Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin.
These rings represent Africa, Asia, America, Europe and Oceania, all of whom had participated in the 1912 Stockholm Games. At the time of its inception, the color of this emblem reflected the colors of every Nation's flag, which was taken as a representation of world unity.
In 1931, Baron Pierre de Coubertin explained his design, saying, "The Olympic flag has a white background with five interlaced rings in the center, blue, yellow, black, green and red". "The design is symbolic, it represents the five continents of the world, united by Olympism".