The Olympic flag, designed by Pierre de Coubertin in 1913 and officially adopted in 1914, first appeared at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. It features a plain white background symbolizing peace and purity, with five interlocking rings at its center. These rings represent the union of the five inhabited continents (Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania) and the meeting of athletes from around the world. The rings are colored blue, yellow, black, green, and red, chosen because at least one of these colors appears in every national flag. The blue ring is on the top left, the yellow on the top center, the black on the top right, the green on the bottom left, and the red on the bottom right. The rings are intertwined, symbolizing the connection and unity among the continents. This design has remained largely unchanged, symbolizing the Olympic spirit and the ideals of peace, unity, and fair competition.