Blue ribbon Blue ribbon The blue ribbon is a symbol of high quality. The association comes from The Blue Riband, a prize awarded for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by passenger liners and, prior to that from Cordon Bleu, which referred to the blue ribbon worn by a particular order of knights. The spelling "blue riband" is still encountered in most English-speaking countries, but in the United States, the term was altered to "blue ribbon", and ribbons of this color came to be awarded for first place in certain athletic or other competitive endeavours (such as county and state fairs).
Blue-ribbon panel or "the blue ribbon commission", creating the potential for confusion. A blue ribbon panel concerning a police shooting appears in the television series "The Good Wife" in season 3 episode 19. It deals with the problems such panels face in order to reach conclusions under political influence. A blue ribbon panel is also mentioned in the television series "The West Wing" in season 2 episode 15. It deals with modifying politically controversial aspects of the US Social Security program such as raising the retirement age. Blue-ribbon panel In the United States, a blue-ribbon panel (or blue ribbon commission) is a