As Paris prepares to host the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, the Louvre Museum is preparing for the occasion by hosting its version of the Olympics. Opening April 24th, “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” celebrates the Olympics and their legacy from the ancient Greeks to the present.
Among the treasures on display is the first Olympic Cup. Presented to a Greek water carrier named Spyridon Louis, the first-ever winner of the marathon race. Often called the ‘Bréal Cup’ thanks to the French inventor of the race Michel Bréal, it has never been exhibited in France. Among the other treasures are ancient vessels and sculptures built to depict the runners, wrestlers, disk throwers, and other stars of the Olympics. Paintings, etchings, and prints based on the Olympics will also be on display.
Side art like a commemorative cover from a program for the 1896 Olympic Games and a full sheet of stamps from the games of 1906 fill in some of the gaps in the art from the games. Seeing the trophy design sheet from the 1906 Mesolympiad alongside the final trophy is a rare opportunity.
Done in conjunction with the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games cultural program, the exhibit will open before the Summer Games on July 26th, and the Paralympic Games on August 28th. This year the medals were done by jeweler Chaumet. They include pieces of iron from the Eiffel Tower.
Staying open through September 16th, curators are giving athletes, their families, friends, and fans ample opportunities to go through and see the history firsthand. This is what places like the Louvre are made for. Synonymous with some of the most amazing art in history, they take their exhibitions seriously and provide nothing less than the best possible examples on the market.
