Through an overview of the history of the Olympic Games, from their origins to the status they hold today, Cyrille Rollet, French teacher at Lancaster university and collector of Olympic Games items, paints a picture of their evolution and the values they convey. He describes the cultural significance of iconic symbols such as the Olympic torch, the mascots, the Olympic rings or the architecture of the stadiums and the role they play in showcasing host cities with identifiable logos and posters.