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5 months ago by Michal Kowalski
Ever wondered why there are SO many flowers (usually) at The Olympic Games?
You’ve found your tribe. 😉💐
From unforgettable ceremonies to beautiful victory bouquets and even medal design – we’re about to dive into a garden of GOLD!
You may have noticed Paris 2024 broke with the tradition?
More on that later. 😉
To understand the significance of flowers at the Olympics we’re taking it back to where it all began…
Ancient Greece!
Where The Olympics were born, specifically in the city of Olympia.
These games were more than just sports; they were part of a religious festival celebrating Zeus, the king of the Greek gods. Winners of the Olympic Games were awarded olive and laurel wreaths or crowns, known as “kotinos”, made from the sacred olive tree of Olympia. 
This practice began with the first-ever recorded Olympics in 776 BCE.
The olive wreath was a highly prestigious symbol of victory and honour, reflecting the religious and cultural significance of the games.
The ancient games happened every four years and this tradition lasted for nearly 12 centuries. But in 393 CE, the Roman Emperor Theodosius put a stop to them as part of his push to promote Christianity.
Luckily, it didn’t end there…
Fast forward to 1896, and the Olympic Games were brought back to life, inspired by those ancient events.
This revival was led by Baron Pierre de Coubertin of France, who established the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 
Appropriately, the first modern Olympics were held in Athens, Greece, as a nod to their ancient roots.
The tradition of using flowers at the Olympics has changed a lot over the years.
In the modern Olympics, flowers were introduced to celebrate athletes, though it’s unclear exactly when this started.
A notable and well-documented moment in history was at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where competitors were given flowers along with their medals for the first time.
However, it wasn’t until the 1960s that it became customary for athletes to receive a bouquet during the medal ceremonies.
These bouquets often featured flowers native to the host country, adding a nice touch of local culture and beauty to the celebrations.
As the years go by, flowers at the Olympics continue to evolve into a touching tradition that goes beyond mere decoration. Flowers are so much more than just beautiful decorations—they embody narratives of victory, honour, and tradition, all while celebrating the world’s greatest athletes.
Each host city often uses blooms to reflect its unique spirit and cultural heritage, adding a personal touch to the celebration of athletic achievements.
At the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, bright Birds of Paradise captured California’s sunny, vibrant essence.
In the 2008 Beijing Olympics bouquets featured vibrant red roses and Chlorophytum leaves paying homage to traditional Chinese symbols of purity and longevity. 
London 2012 saw British-grown roses, mint, and lavender, carefully arranged by renowned florist Jane Packer to showcase local flora. For Tokyo 2020, the choice of sunflowers, eustoma, Solomon’s Seal, and gentians carried deep emotional weight, symbolizing recovery and resilience from the 2011 disaster. For Paris 2024, the focus was on sustainability, we saw them skip flowers all together – and we missed them ALOT!
Through thoughtful floral choices, the Olympics not only celebrate athletic triumphs but also honour the cultural and environmental values of each host nation.
That the Olympic rings are packed with symbolism?
Each of the five interlocking rings stands for one of the world’s five continents—Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania—showing how the Games bring athletes from all over the globe together.
And those vibrant colours? The blue, yellow, black, green, and red rings on a white background were carefully chosen because at least one of these colours appears on every national flag.
It’s all about celebrating global unity and diversity through sport!
What better way to do it than with the help of nature’s bounty, right?
In the Modern Olympics, medals have evolved into a meaningful and artistic tradition, often reflecting the host country’s cultural heritage.
While the medals themselves are iconic symbols of achievement, the incorporation of floral or natural elements adds a unique and thoughtful touch to each Olympic Games.
You’ll notice many of the designs refer to the game’s ancient roots, specifically the Kotinos. You can view all the medal designs here. One of our favourites? Rio 2016! 
5. Ceremony Florals & Victory Bouquets
Now, let’s look at some of the most memorable floral moments from the Olympics, whether it’s the grand opening ceremonies, or award ceremonies with beautiful victory bouquets:
1984 Los Angeles Olympics witnessed possibly our favourite Olympic blooms so far with athletes receiving bouquets that featured bright, cheerful flowers that perfectly captured the sunny, vibrant essence of California and added a festive touch to the medal ceremonies. 
During the 2012 London Olympics, the bouquets given to medalists were a nod to British horticultural heritage, featuring roses, mint, and lavender. Designed by florist Jane Packer, these British-grown flowers brought a charming local flavour to the celebrations.
Tokyo’s 2020 Olympic bouquets were incredibly meaningful, with flowers sourced from areas hit by the 2011 disaster. Sunflowers from Miyagi Prefecture, eustoma and Solomon’s Seal from Fukushima, and gentians from Iwate symbolized recovery, resilience, and hope.
3 of our favourite floral moments throughout the history of the games include:
The 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics provided a stark contrast to the elaborate displays of the 2008 Games.
Back in 2008, the city was adorned with abundant flower mosaics celebrating Chinese culture.
A standout moment for us from the 2022 Games was the use of knitted wool bouquets, serving as a permanent and cherished keepsake for the athletes alongside their medals. These unique bouquets featured seven different wool flowers, including roses, lilies, osmanthus, and green olives.
Each flower held special meaning, symbolizing fraternity, tenacity, happiness, unity, victory, and peace.
The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics were marked by the bright and cheerful bouquets presented to medalists.
These sunny blooms perfectly captured the vibrant spirit of California and added a touch of local flavour to the celebrations.
The daisies not only brightened up the medal ceremonies but also symbolized the warmth and positivity of the Golden State, making these bouquets a very memorable part of Olympic history.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics featured deeply symbolic bouquets that honoured the resilience and recovery of Japan.
The flowers included sunflowers from Miyagi Prefecture, eustoma and Solomon’s Seal from Fukushima Prefecture, and gentians from Iwate Prefecture.
Each flower was chosen to represent themes of hope, renewal, and strength, reflecting the country’s journey through adversity and its commitment to moving forward.
These bouquets added a meaningful layer to the Games, connecting the athletes’ triumphs with a powerful narrative of recovery and solidarity.
Looking ahead, the future of floral design at the Olympics is set to be both inspiring and innovative, reflecting a growing commitment to sustainability and artistic expression.
With increasing environmental awareness, we can expect future Games to embrace eco-friendly floral practices. This means using locally sourced flowers to cut down on transportation impacts and support local economies, opting for biodegradable materials, and finding creative ways to recycle or repurpose floral arrangements after the celebrations.
But it’s not just about being green; it’s also about pushing the boundaries of floral artistry.
Picture modern, cutting-edge designs that blend traditional floral elements with contemporary techniques, or interactive displays that use technology to create dynamic, immersive experiences for spectators. We believe symbolism will continue to play a crucial role, with future floral designs likely focusing on themes of resilience, unity, and renewal. 
Inspired by the Tokyo 2020 Games, expect bouquets to symbolize recovery, change, and hope, with flowers chosen to represent the coming together of nations and the spirit of collaboration.
Among the flowers we might see at future Olympics, cherry blossoms could symbolize fresh starts and beauty, while lily of the valley represents purity and renewal. Daffodils might evoke new beginnings and optimism. We could also see peonies, with their lush blooms, embodying prosperity and renewal, and irises reflecting hope and new opportunities.
Finally, floral designs might become more personalised and inclusive, showcasing a wider range of flowers that reflect the diverse traditions of participating countries and even involving athletes or local communities in the design process.
We’d LOVE to see Olympic trees being planted in a “world garden” to honour the winners of the game throughout history!
Overall, we hope to think that the future of floral symbolism at the Olympics promises to be a vibrant blend of sustainability, cultural celebration, and artistic innovation, capturing the spirit of both the host country and the global community.
Did you notice that the Paris 2024 games broke with tradition? 😲
Medalists were presented with unusual boxes instead of the customary bouquet of flowers… 📦
Viewers of the Olympic Games were left scratching their heads over the contents of these rectangular boxes given to athletes during medal ceremonies.
Inside each box is a replica of the official 2024 Olympics poster, designed for the showcase in Paris. 🇫🇷
While we appreciate the innovative artwork by mastermind Ugo Gattoni, which offers a richly detailed illustration of Paris, including landmarks and Olympic sites, we couldn’t help but miss the victory bouquets!
So, we decided to create our own. 😉
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The most exciting news for us, wa the The Frances Olympic Flame Dahlia – created specifically for the Paris 2024 Olympics, making it a unique and symbolic addition to the Games.
This dahlia has been selectively bred and stands out with its vibrant colours—fiery shades of red, orange, and yellow—that evoke the image of the Olympic flame.
Its bold, dramatic appearance mirrors the energy and spirit of the torch, serving as a floral representation of this iconic symbol.
The new dahlia variety underwent several stages of testing and refinement to ensure that it achieved the right colour intensity and flower form. This process also involved evaluating its growth characteristics and resilience.
What makes the Frances Olympic Flame dahlia significant is its blend of symbolism and local relevance. By incorporating a flower with such vivid, flame-like hues, ties the natural beauty of flowers to the grandeur of the Olympics. 
The choice of this specific cultivar not only highlights the dynamism of the Games but also celebrates French horticultural traditions.
The dahlia’s creation aligns with Paris 2024’s commitment to both cultural and environmental sustainability.
It supports local horticulture and promotes French floriculture, reflecting the country’s dedication to innovation and eco-friendly practices.
The floral tribute will featured prominently in promotional materials and events, helping to craft a memorable visual identity for the Games.
In essence, the Frances Olympic Flame dahlia is more than just a beautiful flower; it symbolises the Olympic spirit and integrates local French culture into the global celebration.
Its design and use will enhance the Paris 2024 Olympics, making it a lasting and meaningful part of the event!
Located in northeastern Paris, Parc de la Villette is one of the largest parks in the city. It’s home to cultural hotspots like the Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie and the Philharmonie de Paris, along with vast green spaces and cool architectural installations. During the Olympics, it will be buzzing with various sports events and cultural activities.
Just north of Paris in Saint-Denis, the Stade de France will be the main stadium for the Paris 2024 Olympics, hosting the opening and closing ceremonies, plus all the athletics events. Around the stadium, you can explore the Canal Saint-Denis and the historic Basilica of Saint-Denis.
Situated right next to the Eiffel Tower, the Champ de Mars offers stunning views of the tower and is a great spot for picnics and relaxation. During the Olympics, this area will be alive with outdoor events and public viewing areas.
In the western part of Paris, this huge park has lakes, gardens, the Jardin d’Acclimatation amusement park, and the Fondation Louis Vuitton art museum. It will also host several sporting events, giving visitors plenty of space to enjoy nature.
Located in the 16th arrondissement, Parc des Princes is known as the home stadium of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) football club. During the Olympics, it will be one of the venues for football matches.
Directly across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, the Trocadéro Gardens offer spectacular views of the tower, plus fountains, sculptures, and the Palais de Chaillot.
This will be a prime spot for public gatherings and cultural events during the Olympics.
In the 12th arrondissement, Parc de Bercy features gardens, ponds, and the Cinémathèque Française film museum. It’s close to the Bercy Arena, which will host various indoor sports events.
Several Olympic events will take place in the greater Île-de-France region, including sailing in Marseille. This gives you a chance to explore other parts of France and enjoy both natural landscapes and historic sites.
The Paris 2024 Olympics offers a mix of iconic sites and hidden gems for both events and exploration.
Whether you’re near the Eiffel Tower, in the vast spaces of Bois de Boulogne, or in the buzzing atmosphere of La Villette, these parks will provide unforgettable experiences during the Games.
We will update this blog post when the LA 2028 games come around! We can’t wait.
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