The giant Olympic rings that symbolize the Olympic Movement have returned to the stadium in Athens that hosted the first Olympic Games of the modern era in 1896. The rings have been installed once again at the Panathenaic (or Kallimarmaro) Stadium after an absence of over 11 years. Based on a design by Pierre de Coubertin, the Olympic symbol consists of five interlaced rings of equal dimensions to represent the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Games.
