What does the fascinating little form that has become the symbol for the Vancouver Winter Olympics represent? Well, in the Inuit language Inuktitut, inukshuk (pronounced ‘in-ook-shook) means “likeness of a person” or “in the image of man”. Not surprising, given that it looks like a little person. But why this image for the Games?

The image has evolved into a symbol of leadership, cooperation, friendship and the human spirit. The stones used to create an inukshuk are secured through balance. Each stone supports the one above and is supported by the one below. Together the stones achieve strength through unity. A group can achieve greater success with cooperation and team effort rather than individuality.

These are certainly ideas that set a wonderful tone for a tremendous event such as the Winter Olympics. Ideally the Olympics inspire us all to live greater lives and living within a paradigm including what the inukshuk represents would create a better world.

The Vancouver Winter Olympics inukshuk logo was chosen out of 16,000 entries from across Canada. Vancouver based Elena Rivera MacGregor and her team of designers entered the inukshuk logo and were chosen by an International panel of 9 judges.