New Exhibition in Rio de Janeiro Celebrates the History of Sports

By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – After making its way through six Brazilian cities, the “Esporte Movimento” (Sport Movement) exhibition arrived at Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro on July 9th. Opened to the public on July 10th and remaining on display through September 25th, the exhibition celebrates the history of sports through the display of items chosen from the collection of Roberto Gesta de Melo.

The approximately 1,300 items on display were selected from Melo’s personal collection of over 70,000 pieces and include trophies, torches, photographs, videos, medals, replicas, and many additional items related to sports.

Notable items on display will include a Golden Bay leaf, an original fragment from laurels awarded during the ancient Olympic Games; a limestone fragment dating from e Ancient Egyptian Empire (2125 BC) featuring hieroglyphics and figures playing sports; a paper medal made in a concentration camp for prisoners during the Second World War; and items worn by athletes including a shirt worn by Brazilian Olympic track and field athlete Adhemar da Silva.

Filling four of Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro’s galleries, the exhibition is divided into eight sections. Traveling through the displays, visitors will witness the history of sports beginning with cave paintings and arriving at the present day.

Before arriving in Rio de Janeiro, the exhibition was held in São Paulo, Curitiba, Brasilia, Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador with organizers estimating over 125,000 combined attendees to the exhibition, thus far.

What: “Esporte Movimento” Exhibition
When: July 10th through September 25th, Tuesdays through Sundays 10AM to 9PM.
Where: Caixa Cultural Rio de Janeiro – Galleries 1 through 4, Av. Almirante Barroso, 25 – Centro
Entrance: FREE