Olympic Artifacts on Display in Rio: Daily

By Lisa Flueckiger, Contributing Reporter

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – An exhibition featuring 300 pieces of Olympic history has arrived in Rio. The show aims to connect Cariocas with the history of the games three years ahead of the 2016 Summer Olympics.

The interactive exhibition named “Olympic Games: Sports, Culture and Art” opened on September 13th and can be seen at the Museu Histórico Nacional (National History Museum) in Centro.

The pieces are usually on display at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. The pieces represent key moments in the history of the modern Olympic Games.

“As host of the next edition, we have a responsibility to contribute to the process of Olympic education of the Brazilian people, which goes far beyond knowing the rules of the 28 sports that make up the program of the world’s biggest sporting event,” Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of Brazilian Olympic Committee and the 2016 Organizing Committee explained.

The showing, which was put together by the Olympic Committee, features nine themes: Games of Antiquity, Coubertin’s Dream, Igniting the Torch, Ceremonies, Awards and Sports, Mascots, Rio 2016, Memorabilia and Team Brazil.

Visitors get to see everything from Olympic torches, to medals and stuffed animals of the event’s mascots. Rare artifacts will be on display, including the shoe and medals of Brazilian athlete Adhemar Ferreira da Silva, triple jump champion in the 1952 Helsinki games and 1956 in Melbourne, as well as Swiss tennis’ star Roger Federer’s outfit from his 2008 Beijing game.

The interactive exhibition also allows the public to participate, letting visitors hold the torch of the London Olympic Games and take pictures with the well-known mascot from Moscow 1980, Mischa. There is also a simulation of the long jump and various educational tools available for visitors to experience what it feels like to participate in one of the world’s greatest sports events.

Before arriving in Rio, the exhibition had visited São Paulo from April 15th until June 30th. More than 20,000 people visited the Olympic showing in that city.

What: Olympic Exhibit “Olympic Games: Sports, Culture and Art”
Where: Museu Histórico Nacional, Praça Marechal Âncora – Centro.
When: September 13th – December 1st, Tuesdays-Fridays (Monday closed): 10AM-5:30 PM, Saturday and Sunday: 2PM-6PM
Entrance: FREE

Read more (in Portuguese).

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