Olympism Made Visible
While the Olympic spirit comes to life in the magic of each edition of the Olympic Games, it also lives well beyond the great sporting event, thanks to the work of global organisations supported by the IOC and independent individuals and programs that share a common goal: to create a better world through sport.
Olympism Made Visible is an international photography initiative led by the Olympic Museum that looks beyond professional sporting competition to trace the Olympic values and their impact when sport is placed at the service of humankind through community-based activities around the world.
How does the practice of sport make a difference in people’s lives, from young girls and women in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, to refugees at a camp in Rwanda, to ordinary citizens in urban centres across the globe? Olympism Made Visible explores the power of sport as a tool for social development and change through the eyes of acclaimed photographers who work at the intersection of fine art and social documentary.
Since the project’s launch in 2018, twelve international artists have been invited by the Olympic Museum to each contribute a set of 15-20 original photographs on a given topic relating to the role of sport and Olympic values in society, in such areas as gender equality, conflict resolution through sport, and health and active communities. Their creative perspectives have shaped a unique photography collection that today comprises more than 200 museum-quality prints, a powerful and lasting contribution to the legacy and patrimony of the Olympic Movement.
Projects and artists
Bhubaneswar, India
Champions of Tomorrow
Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
What is the Joy of the Future?
Kigeme, Mugombwa, and Mahama Refugee Camps, Rwanda
Protecting Young Refugees Through Sport
Kakuma (Turkana County), Kenya
Sport for Social Cohesion
Amman, Jordan
Peace Building Through Dialogue and Play
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fight for Peace & One Win Leads to Another: Resolving Conflict Peacefully and Promoting Gender Equality Through Sport
Dakar and Thies, Senegal
Sport for Empowerment of Young Female Athletes
Ngerulmud, Palau
Water-Based Physical Activity in the South Pacific
Tenosique and Tapachula, Mexico
Protecting Young Refugees from Violence
Paris Metropolitan Area, France
Social Integration Through Sports in the City
Liverpool, UK
Global Active City - Healthy Living for All
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Skateistan: Empowering Youth Through Skateboarding and Education
EXHIBITIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Photographs from Olympism Made Visible are shared with the general public through exhibitions and special installations realised by the Olympic Museum in collaboration with cultural partners including photography festivals, museums, and city agencies, to bring visibility and positive recognition to organisations and individuals around the world who put Olympism into action by helping to change people’s lives for the better through sport, in often challenging circumstances.
Exhibitions of selected works from Olympism Made Visible realised to date include presentations at:
- Kolga Tbilisi Photo, Tbilisi, Georgia (May 5-29, 2023)
- SPRINT Photography Festival, Albi, France (April 29-May 14, 2023)
- Milan Image Art Fair, Milano, Italy (April 28-May 1, 2022)
- Thailand Biennale, Korat, Thailand (December 18, 2021 – March 31, 2022)
- Olympic Agora, Tokyo, Japan (July 1-August 15, 2021)
- Olympism in Action Forum, Buenos Aires, Argentina (October 5-6, 2018)
