In mid-October, the National Museum opened the exhibition Olympic Stories in its New Building (Nová budova Národního muzea). The exhibition highlights the achievements of Czech athletes, spanning from their participation in the 1908 Olympic Games in London to this year’s Games in Paris. Visitors can look forward to numerous exhibits from the National Museum’s sports collections, many of which have never been displayed before, as well as unique items on loan. The exhibition is organized in cooperation with the Czech Olympic Committee.
“Olympic Stories is the third exhibition in four years that the National Museum has organized with the Czech Olympic Committee. Thanks to this collaboration, we’ve been able to gather unique items on loan. We’re also showcasing many exhibits from the National Museum’s collections, some of which are being shown to the public for the first time. Our sports collection, which includes over 40,000 items, is one of the most significant in Europe,” explains Michal Lukeš, Director General of the National Museum.
Among the exhibition’s highlights are stadium models from Berlin and Beijing, along with participation medals: the bronze medal of Bedřich Šupčík, Czechoslovakia’s first Olympic champion, from 1924; the gold medal of equestrian František Ventura (Amsterdam, 1928); the gold medal of gymnast Vlasta Děkanová (Berlin, 1936); and the silver medal of discus thrower Ludvík Daněk from the 1972 Games in Munich. Specially loaned items include the medals of Emil Zátopek and Dana Zátopková from the 1960 Games in Rome, which are held in the National Archives.
“This exhibition is a tribute to all Czech athletes who have represented our country, not only in Paris but also in previous Olympic Games. It reminds us of their dedication, ambition, and sportsmanship, and it is a way to thank everyone who contributed to preparing and participating in our Olympic delegations,” says Jiří Kejval, Chairman of the Czech Olympic Committee.
Visitors can also view a collection of Olympic torches, starting with the first torch from the 1936 Berlin Games to the latest designs. One of these torches was carried through Czechoslovak territory for the first and only time in 1936.
The exhibition is further enriched by film footage from the archives of the International Olympic Committee, primarily featuring scenes from the 1924 Games in Paris and the lighting of the Olympic flame over the decades.
Olympic Stories will be on display in the New Building of the National Museum until the end of September next year.
