Olympic House opens its doors to the public

Lausanne residents, visitors to the Canton of Vaud, Olympic Games fans and those who are simply curious will all be able to explore Olympic House, which was inaugurated on 23 June and has already become a must-see in the Louis-Bourget Park in Lausanne.

Visitors will be welcomed in the reception by the statue of Baron Pierre de Coubertin, produced by Swiss sculptor Vincent Du Bois, before they take in the exhibition on Olympic House on the lower level of the headquarters.

Videos featuring highlights of the construction of the building will be shown on giant screens; while visitors will be able to share their experience in real time on social networks, thanks to the use of the #OlympicHouse hashtag.

Guided tours will be organised every 15 minutes (registration is on-site), allowing groups of 20 people to explore the upper levels and workspaces at the IOC, from the meeting rooms to the office of IOC President Thomas Bach.

Olympic House was designed around four concepts: integration (into its local environment), athletes at the heart (the shape is inspired by movement), peace (solar panels on the roof in the form of a dove), and unity (the central staircase represents the five Olympic rings).

With this new building, the IOC has confirmed its attachment to Lausanne, the Olympic Capital. This high-quality project, which was developed in close cooperation with the local authorities, provides the region with an emblematic architectural landmark which has become one of the most sustainable buildings in the world, having obtained three of the most rigorous international certifications.

The design is intended to ensure that the building blends seamlessly into its environmental and historic setting and integrates with the local community.

Organised in Switzerland for the 26^th time, Heritage Days invite the public (re)discover the built heritage of Switzerland in all its forms, and highlight the historical, political and aesthetical aspects of many heritage monuments and sites across the country. This campaign is a cultural initiative of the Council of Europe and is supported by the European Union. The Days are organised in 50 European countries, and attract almost 20 million visitors each year in Europe alone.

Where

Olympic House, Route de Vidy 9, 1007 Lausanne

Tours

• Free entry, visitors can explore the ground floor and exhibition area on the lower level
• Guided tours of the office floors (numbers limited, on-site registration only)

Information

- Bus numbers 24 (Siège du CIO stop) and 25 (Bois de Vaux stop)

- M1, Bourdonnette stop

- Outdoor public car park

Organisation

International Olympic Committee − www.olympic.org