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zachary harden
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![[The Olympic flag]](../images/o/oly@ioc.gif)
image by Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán
Flag adopted: 1914.
The Olympic Charter (updated on 12 December 1999), includes the following information about the Olympic flag, the Olympic symbol, the flags and emblems of the NOCs, and the Parade of Flags:
See also:
Other sites:
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
The Olympic flag has a white background, with no border. In its centre is located the Olympic symbol in its five colours. Its design and proportions shall be those of the flag presented by Pierre de Coubertin at the Paris Congress in 1914.
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
All rights to the Olympic symbol, the Olympic flag, the Olympic motto and the Olympic anthem belong exclusively to the IOC.
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
(...)
4. The NOCs may only use the Olympic symbol, flag, motto and anthem within the framework of their non-profit-making activities, provided such use contributes to the development of the Olympic Movement and does not detract from its dignity and provided the NOCs concerned have obtained the prior approval of the IOC Executive Board.
5. (…)
6. (…)
7. (…)
7.1. An Olympic emblem may be created by an NOC or an OCOG.
7.2. The IOC Executive Board may approve the design of an Olympic emblem provided that it considers that there is no risk of confusion between such emblem and the Olympic symbol or other Olympic emblems.
7.3. The area covered by the Olympic symbol contained in an Olympic emblem shall not exceed one third of the total area of such emblem. Furthermore, the Olympic symbol contained in an Olympic emblem must appear in its entirety and must not be altered in any way whatsoever.
7.4. In addition to the foregoing, the Olympic emblem of an NOC must fulfill the following conditions:
7.4.1. The emblem must be designed in such a way that it is clearly identified as being connected with the country of the NOC concerned.
7.4.2. The distinctive element of the emblem cannot be limited to the sole name - or abbreviation of such name - of the country of the NOC concerned.
7.4.3. The distinctive element of the emblem must not make reference to the Olympic Games or to a specific date or event, so as to be limited in time.
7.4.4. The distinctive element of the emblem must not contain mottoes, designations or other generic expressions which give the impression of being universal or international in nature.
7.4.5. In addition to the provisions contained in paragraphs 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 above, the Olympic emblem of an OCOG must fulfill the following conditions:
7.4.6. The emblem must be designed in such a way that it is clearly identifiable as being connected with the Olympic Games organized by the OCOG concerned; (…)
7.5. In addition to the provisions contained in paragraphs 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 above, the Olympic emblem of an OCOG must fulfill the following conditions:
7.5.1. The emblem must be designed in such a way that it is clearly identifiable as being connected with the Olympic Games organized by the OCOG concerned;
7.5.2. The distinctive element of the emblem cannot be limited to the sole name - or abbreviation of such name - of the country of the OCOG concerned;
7.5.3. The distinctive element of the emblem must not contain mottoes, designations or other generic expressions which give the impression of being universal or international in nature.
7.6. Any Olympic emblem which has been approved by the IOC Executive Board before the coming into effect of the foregoing provisions shall remain valid.
7.7. Whenever and wherever possible, the Olympic emblem of an NOC must be susceptible of registration (i.e. of legal protection) by the NOC in its country. The NOC must carry out such registration within six months of such emblem's approval by the IOC Executive Board and provide the IOC with proof of registration. IOC Executive Board approval of Olympic emblems may be withdrawn unless the NOCs concerned take all possible steps to protect their Olympic emblems and inform the IOC of such protection. Similarly, the OCOGs must protect their Olympic emblems, in the manner described above, in their countries as well as in other countries as decided in consultation with the IOC Executive Board. Any protection obtained by the NOCs and the OCOGs cannot be put forward against the IOC.
12. The Olympic symbol and the Olympic emblems of the IOC may be exploited by it or by a person authorized by it, in the country of an NOC, provided that the following conditions are respectively fulfilled:
12.1. For all sponsorship and supply agreements and for all marketing initiatives other than those referred to in paragraph 12.2 below, the condition shall be that such exploitation does not cause serious damage to the interests of the NOC concerned and that the decision be taken by the IOC Executive Board in consultation with such NOC, which shall receive part of the net proceeds deriving from such exploitation.
12.2. For all licensing agreements, the condition shall be that the NOC shall receive half of all net income from such exploitation, after deduction of all taxes and out-of-pocket costs relating thereto. The NOC will be informed in advance of any such exploitation.
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
The flag, the emblem and the anthem adopted by an NOC for use in relation to its activities, including the Olympic Games, must be approved by the IOC Executive Board.
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
1. Opening Ceremony
1.1 The Olympic Games shall be proclaimed open by the Head of State of the host country.1.2 (…)
1.3 The parade of the participants then follows. Each delegation, dressed in its official uniform, must be preceded by a name-board bearing its name and must be accompanied by its flag, to be carried by a member of the delegation. The flags of the participating delegations, as well as the name-boards, shall be provided by the OCOG and shall all be of equal size. The name-board-bearers shall be designated by the OCOG.
1.4 (…)
1.5 The delegations parade in alphabetical order according to the language of the host country, except for Greece, which leads the parade, and for the host country, which brings up the rear. Only those athletes participating in the Olympic Games with the right to accommodation in the Olympic Village may take part in the parade, led by a maximum of six officials per delegation.
1.6 (…)
1.7 (…)
1.8 (…)
1.9 (…)
1.10 While the Olympic anthem is being played, the Olympic flag, unfurled horizontally, is brought into the stadium and hoisted on the flagpole erected in the arena.
1.11 (…)
1.12 The flag bearers of all the delegations form a semicircle around the rostrum. A competitor of the host country mounts the rostrum. Holding a corner of the Olympic flag in his left hand, and raising his right hand, he takes the following solemn oath:
"In the name of all the competitors I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honour of our teams".1.13 Immediately afterwards, a judge from the host country mounts the rostrum and, in the same manner, takes the following oath:
"In the name of all the judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Olympic Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship." (…)
2. Closing Ceremony
2.1. (…)2.2. The flag bearers then form a semi-circle behind the rostrum.
2.3. The President of the IOC and the President of the OCOG mount the rostrum. To the sounds of the Greek national anthem, the Greek flag is hoisted on the flagpole that stands to the right of the central flagpole used for the winners' flags. The flag of the host country is then hoisted on the central flagpole, while its anthem is played. Finally, the flag of the host country of the next Olympic Games is hoisted on the lefthand flagpole to the strains of its anthem.
2.4. The mayor of the host city joins the President of the IOC on the rostrum and returns to him the Olympic flag. The president of the IOC then entrusts it to the mayor of the host city of the following Olympic Games. This flag must be displayed in the latter city's main municipal building.
2.5. (…)
2.6. A fanfare then sounds; the Olympic flame is extinguished, and while the Olympic anthem is being played, the Olympic flag is slowly lowered from the flagpole and, unfurled horizontally, carried out of the arena, followed by the flag bearers. A farewell song resounds.
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a
UN member. The
islands Aruba and NA were (one) member of
UPU and
observers of several other organizations (UNWTO
etc.).
The expectations is that this will be changed to
Aruba,
Curaçao and Sint Maarten as one member/observer.
The Olympic Comittee has changed the rules for
membership of non-indepentent entities. Existing members will stay a normal
member, but new non-independent members will not be admitted. This means that
Aruba stays a IOC member, but
Curaçao and Sint Maarten athletes will have to be
part of the Netherlands team.
Maxim van Ooijen, 11 October 2010
The Netherlands Antilles will continue to exist not as a country but as a
(sports) region in the Caribbean. Please visit:
http://www.naoc.info/new-status/
"New status:
NAOC was founded in the year 1931 and as such is one of the oldest Olympic
Committee of the Caribbean region. On a political level it was decided in 2005
that the country Netherlands Antilles will seize to exist within a couple of
years. Together with the Antillean Minister of Sports, as well as all five
insular commissioners of sports the goal was unanimously set (29th of October
2006) to maintain NAOC and its members as umbrella sport organizations. This was
approved by the International Olympic Committee
(28th of June 2007) and ratified during the General Assembly of NAOC on the 5th
of July 2007. The name Netherlands Antilles will no longer refer to a country,
but to a region in the Caribbean. NAOC will keep its status as highest sport's
governing body for all five islands. The support towards the federations, the
islands and all athletes will be intensified in the near future."
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 4 January 2011
On Jan. 13 this year, the Executive Board of the
IOC
agreed to allow athletes
from former Netherlands Antilles to compete under the Olympic Flags as
independet athletes, just like those from
East Timor in Sydney 2000,
Yugoslavia in Barcelona 1992.
Other sources declare that even the
IAAF has withdrawn recognition to the former
Netherlands territory, then the athletes are to compete under the
Dutch flag.
Sources:
http://www.rnw.nl/caribiana/article/atleten-tot-2012-onder-olympische-vlag
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110113/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_ioc_meetings
http://www.tsn.ca/olympics/story/?id=349231
http://insidethegames.biz/summer-olympics/2012/11628-ghana-and-netherlands-antilles-set-to-miss-london-2012
http://www.thedailyherald.com/sports/local-sports/12395-netherlands-antilles-loses-olympic-charter.html
http://www.thestate.com/2011/01/13/1644125/ap-sources-ioc-suspends-ghanas.html
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 25 January 2011
Football world governing body
FIFA in its
official website has replaced the page "Netherlands
Antilles" for that of
"Curaçao"
In the link "Associations" of the same site in English, the name
"Netherlands Antilles" used to appear between "Netherlands" and "New
Caledonia"; right now it appears no more. Insted, the name "Curaçao" has
been placed between "Cuba" and "Cyprus".
A month ago, the International Olympic Committee
ruled that all athletes
from the former Netherlands Antilles would participate in the 2011 Pan
American Games and 2012 Olympic Games under the Olympic Flag as independent
Athletes; after that all of them shall compete under the Dutch flag. At the
same time IAAF (World Athletics Federation) witdrew its recognition towards
the non-existent Netherlands Antilles stating that Athletes from the former
territory shall compete for the Netherlands from now on.
Though lacking of official statements, it seems that
FIFA decided to keep
recognition to Curaçao as the legal successor of the Netherlands Antilles.
The flag shown for Curaçao in the
FIFA site is this
one, the code in use is : CUW (the same used by ISO-3166)
Juan Manuel Gabino Villascán, 6 March 2011
Since July 2007 there is a new article 31.1 in the Olympic Charter (see
below). This means that non-independent countries can no longer become an IOC
member. NOCs that were members of the IOC before 2007 can remain a member
(American Samoa, Aruba, Bermuda etc.). Others can not become a member anymore
(Northern Marianas, Faroe Islands, New Caledonia).
The NAOC has tried, but apparently lost. Since there is also a rule that
athletes participating for a NOC should be a citizen of that country. This would
mean that no athletes from Curaçao or Sint Maarten can go to the Olympic Games
any more, since they are not citizens of the Netherlands or Aruba, but of other
countries within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
See also (opens as a Word document):
http://box576.bluehost.com/pipermail/bestuur_sports.an/attachments/20100420b1a4ecf4/attachment-0009.doc
http://box576.bluehost.com/pipermail/bestuur_sports.an/attachments/20100420b1a4ecf4/attachment-0009.doc
31 Country and Name of an NOC
1. In the Olympic Charter, the expression “country” means an independent State
recognised by the international community.
Maxim van Ooijen, 11 October 2010
Sources: Olympic Charter - International Olympic Committee, 12 December 1999
