The Olympic Museum, Lausanne.
Photograph: The Olympic Museum

Celebrate like a champion at The Olympic Museum’s 30th anniversary party

Immerse yourself in sporting history and then hit-up a block party, making for a day to remember

Written by Time Out. Paid for in partnership with The Olympic Museum.
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Most of us mere mortals won’t get a chance to compete as elite athletes in the Olympic Games, but you can still get a taste of what it’s like by visiting The Olympic Museum, a gold-medal-worthy day out in Lausanne.

Rightfully one of the city’s most popular attractions, the museum offers an unrivalled window into the Olympic story, tracing the history, highlights and future of the world’s biggest sporting event. But don’t feel you need to be a sports fan to enjoy a visit, as the appeal goes far beyond ‘just’ sport, making it a fantastic activity for all.

The museum is divided into a vast per permanent collection and temporary exhibitions that take a deep dive into all kinds of subjects. Here’s what you’ll find taking place over the summer and beyond, including some very special celebrations to mark The Olympic Museum’s 30th anniversary.

Find more information on exhibitions and special events at olympics.com/museum, where you can also book tickets to begin your Olympic journey.

What’s on offer at The Olympic Museum

The permanent exhibition
Photograph: The Olympic Museum

The permanent exhibition

The Olympic Museum’s permanent collection is a truly extensive collection, split into different themes: Olympic Games, Olympic World and Olympic Spirit. The outstanding achievements of Olympians and the incredible legacy of the games are brought to life across 3,000 square metres. Through more than 1,500 exhibits and 150-plus screens, visitors can relive past sporting glories and learn the stories of those who’ve competed over the centuries.

And don’t be fooled into thinking your experience will be a static one. The Olympic Museum is a highly interactive affair, and there are numerous opportunities for visitors of all ages to get involved with multimedia displays and audiovisual installations, and even to test their own sporting skills.

After all that interaction and discovery, you’ll need to refuel, as every good athlete knows. Thankfully, help is on-hand in the TOM Café, a bright and airy space with great views across the lake.

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Anniversary celebrations
Photograph: The Olympic Museum

Anniversary celebrations

2023 marks The Olympic Museum’s 30th birthday, which means it’s time to celebrate – because every good Olympian should also know how to celebrate, for when they finally claim that elusive medal they’ve been training for. The festivities take place on June 24 from 2pm-11pm, and they’re free for everyone to enjoy.

There’ll be a whole lot going on throughout the day. The morning fun includes games and immersive activities for children (they’ll need to crack the code to a safe to unlock a lost Olympic medal) and screening highlights from the Olympic Channel (including reconstructions of historic Olympic moments, and meetings between iconic Olympians and rock stars), followed by a special all-you-can-eat anniversary brunch buffet in the TOM Café.

Once fully nourished, it’s time to party. Hip hop and brass band hybrid collective Radio Kaizman will help with this part, as they’re organising a block party around the Olympic Park surrounding the museum. This one should be a blast. Don’t party too hard, though, as you’ll need to save some energy for a unique behind-the-scenes tour of the museum. Here, visitors will get a rare chance to peak at usually-off-limits sections of the collections and discover hidden treasures, unravelling yet-more fascinating Olympic stories.

Another highlight is bound to be the Kalabazi bike acrobatics, which involves mind-boggling feats of bicycle agility, combined with music, costumes and poetry.

As the evening draws in, there’s yet-more fun to be had. Tapas and cocktails will be served at the TOM Café, The Coubertines – a band group consisting of employees from the International Olympic Committee – will bewitch the audience with some choice melodies, and comedy will combine with sport in the Olympic Improv Challenge, where athletes undertake spontaneous challenges to win medals and – more importantly – laughs.

If that’s got you in the mood for celebrating or just for paying a visit to this champion of a venue, head over to olympics.com/museum to find out more and book tickets.   

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