Collections to support the Olympic idea

The richness and immense variety of shapes, forms, eras and materials of the artefacts preserved in The Olympic Museum’s collections are striking. And it is this diversity which gives them their narrative power to recount the Olympic journey!

The collections were started in 1915, and are still being expanded today. This long tradition allowed to put together unique collections, with some highlights:

• The collection of Pierre de Coubertin’s personal objects, which reveal the multiple facets of the man as an athlete, artist, pedagogue, networker and sports leader.
• The IOC’s historical collection, with unique items like one of the first Olympic flags from 1913 or the cups and trophies contested during each edition of the Games between 1908 and 1920.
• Objects for every edition of the Games since 1896, including those not held in 1916, 1940 and 1944. Emblematic objects are well represented, with an almost complete set of winners’ medals, torches, posters and mascots.
• Sports equipment from Olympians of every continent and every Olympic sport.
• President Juan Antonio Samaranch’s philately collection.

Rio 2016, torch signed by the members of the refugees team.

All the objects are inventoried, photographed, properly preserved and studied. After all, it is studying an object and placing it in context that gives it its full meaning and allows themes as diverse as sport, design, fashion, technology or the Olympic values to be explored.

Find out more about The Olympic Museum’s collections, their history and how they are managed by consulting our Collections Policy.