An early chant similar to the "Olé, Olé, Olé" chant was heard in Spain in league game in 1982, and this version quickly spread to other clubs. The song was written by Margarita Lecuona in 1939. Dezi Arnaz chanted "Olé, Olé, Olé" during his song to Babalú-Ayé, an African deity. The word "olé" has also been chanted in songs in the 1950s, a form of the "olé" chant was heard in American Television on the sitcom I Love Lucy. The word may be chanted by a crowd for a team or player who made an exceptional performance, and it may be used to demean the opposition when their own team are passing the ball around after a dominant performance. In association football, "Olé" as an interjection as used in bullfighting is believed to be first used in Brazil for Garrincha in 1958. The word has also become associated with other sports since the 20th century.
In bullfighting, the word is commonly shouted by the crowds as a cry of approval to cheer on a series of moves performed by the bullfighter, with each move greeted with an "olé". In flamenco music and dance, shouts of "olé" often accompany the dancer during and at the end of the performance, and a singer in cante jondo may emphasize the word "olé" with melismatic turns.
Olé is a Spanish interjection used to cheer on or praise a performance commonly used in bullfighting and flamenco dance.