Emblem - Kotenos

The olive wreath: an Athenean classic

The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games emblem is a wreath made from an olive tree branch. It represents the four values of the 2004 Games – heritage, participation, celebration, human scale - in a uniquely Greek design.

The olive wreath or “kotinos” is one of the legacies of the ancient Games and was the prize awarded to Olympic champions. The olive tree was the sacred tree and symbol of the city-state of Athens.

The wreath has the shape of an open circle; it is an open invitation to humanity to participate in a common endeavor, the Olympic way of life, through the greatest peaceful competition of the world.

It is also, a pledge for a universal festival that transcends boundaries and distinctions. The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games will be a celebration full of energy and excitement in which everyone is invited to participate.

The design is rendered by hand in a free and unrestricted manner that highlights the human element.

The palette of white and blue reflects the Greek sea and sky, suggesting the fluidity and transparency of water and the brightness of the Aegean light.