The Sochi Winter Olympic Games are on right now in a big way. The Olympics as a modern organisation is big business today and like most big businesses they protect their intellectual property in a lot of detail and they are extremely quick to react to any breaches. We love branding and when it comes to branding the Olympic Games Logo is arguably the most recognised symbol on earth. The process to create such a powerful popular symbol is no easy task. It requires not only having a great design to begin with, but it also requires that standards are met consistently year after year. It is this consistency over time that sets it apart. In fact I cannot even remember if the symbol has every gone through any changes big or small. This is remarkable as even brand names like McDonalds and Apple have gone through changes over the years.

Logo Branding Policy

I used the word policy as opposed to guidelines, the instructions for branding the Olympic logo is non negotiable. Either stick to it or feel the fury of the committee when it is breached.

- The area covered by the 5 rings cannot go over 1/3 of the total logo space. For example:

- All the rings has to appear on all merchandise and material. You cannot have less than 5 rings

- Rings can be branded in solid colours in these colours: Blue | Yellow | Black | Green | Red | White | Grey | Gold | Silver | Bronze. Any of these colours can be used, however if you were to brand in full colour then you must use these 3 colours up the top: blue, black and red. On the bottom you muse use yellow and green in that order.

- On products that have a dark background such as a black promotional umbrella the rings must use: Yellow, white, grey, silver, bronze or gold. Full colour prints are not allowed.

- Official Pantone Colours only.

- Yellow not allowed on a white background

- An area around must be left blank.