Sport pictograms are used as the essential visual reference for any information related to the Competition Schedule and the Venues. Each is a seperate image showing the Sports and Disciplines special features and enabling the viewer to recognise them immediately. The Image & Identity Department directed the design of 35 pictograms representing the 28 Olympic Sports and certain Disciplines.

The ATHENS 2004 Sport pictograms were inspired by three elements of ancient Greek civilisation. The simplicity of the human form is inspired by the Cycladic figurines. The Artistic expression of the Pictogram derives from the black-figure vases, where solid black shapes represent the human body and a single line defines the detailing of the form. The figures of the pictograms are solid and clearly drawn on a background similar to a gragment of an ancient vase.

While their inspiration was very artistic and cultural, the ATHENS 2004 Sport pictograms were very accurate in depicting the most recognisable movement of each individual Sport and Discipline and were approved by all International Federations and by the IOC.
 

Source document: Official Report 2004, Vol. 1, page 323