With three curved swishes in red, blue and green, the Paralympic symbol certainly looks slick.
But there is more to the Agitos logo, which will be on display at the Paris 2024 games, than three colourful lines, with the design signifying the four core values of the Paralympics: courage, determination, inspiration and equality.
Red, blue and green were chosen, as they are the colours most used in flags around the world, and the curve in the line shows ‘spirit in movement’.
‘Agitos’ itself means ‘I move’ in Latin. The name symbolises the motion of the Paralympic athletes – but also the Paralympic movement as a whole and the athletes who travel to compete.
But why aren’t the Olympic rings used, as well? These are the Paralympic Games, after all.
Here’s what you need to know.
Why aren’t the Olympic rings used at the Paralympics?
With many matching sporting events at the Paralympics, you’d think the logos would match, too.
For example, both Games see competitions in archery, athletics, canoe sprint, cycling, equestrian, football, judo, powerlifting, rowing, sailing, shooting, volleyball, swimming, table tennis, triathlon, basketball, fencing, rugby and tennis.
As it happens, the logos were quite similar once upon a time, until 2003.
The original symbol was based on a Korean tae-geuk decoration, and featured blue, black, red, yellow and green symbols – the same colours used at the Olympics.
It was unveiled during Seoul 1988, and was said to signify the reality from which all things and values originate.
Sadly, the design was seen as too similar to the Olympic rings – and so it was ditched, and the Agitos logo was created, first used in 2004.
Why can’t it be similar? Well, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) object to any symbol resembling the Olympic rings – or anyone trying to use the actual Olympic rings for their own purposes.
So, that explains the significant difference between the Olympic symbol and the Paralympic one.
