The British Olympic Association (BOA) announced plans today for an Olympic Museum to be built on the future Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park (QEOP) as a permanent legacy of the London 2012 Games.
The proposals are for the Olympic Museum to open in 2014 and be situated adjacent to the ArcelorMittal Orbit tower. It is expected to become a leading visitor attraction on the QEOP.
The British Olympic Museum will provide members of the public with a venue to re-live the excitement, passion and drama of the London 2012 Games. It will create an interactive experience using technology and entertainment to communicate the Olympic values to inspire future generations and educate them with stories and memorabilia from the Games.
The Museum is also designed to recognise and celebrate London’s unique place in the Olympic Movement as it becomes the first city in the world to host the Olympic Games three times. Regretfully, there is minimal physical representation of the 1908 and 1948 Olympic Games left in London. The museum will ensure the story of London’s special Olympic history will be showcased to the world and our assets from the 1908, 1948 and 2012 Games are shared with visitors for many years to come.
While the design and content of the Museum is still under discussion, it is anticipated the experience might include the following elements:
The BOA is working to raise funds from Olympic Partners and individual donors and the BOA and Olympic Park Legacy Company will work together to reach a final licensing agreement in the forthcoming weeks.
BOA Chairman Colin Moynihan said: “As the only city to have earned the honour of hosting the Olympic Games three times, London occupies a truly unique place in Olympic history. It is a feat we should be immensely proud of and I believe the British Olympic Museum is the perfect way to ensure the spirit, excitement and unforgettable memories of the London 2012 Games live on to inspire future generations to follow their own dreams.
“We look forward to working in partnership with the Olympic Park Legacy Company and we are grateful for the support received from the International Olympic Committee. We are now looking to the Olympic Partners and individuals to help make this legacy project a great success. Given the lack of physical legacy remaining from the 1908 and 1948 Games, we are delighted that the Museum will be created to tell the story of the 2012 Games long after the curtain comes down. Crucially, it will create a permanent touch-point with the public on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and will be a great complement to the many excellent sporting venues.
“The museum will also provide an important opportunity to honour and celebrate the most outstanding British Olympic athletes and create a platform for their stories to inspire generation upon generation of future sport participants with their achievements.”
Baroness Ford, Chair of the Olympic Park Legacy Company, said: "The Olympic Museum will be a wonderful attraction on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, bringing historical, educational and cultural interest for families to enjoy and leaving a lasting association with the London 2012 Games. Legacy plans are more advanced than any previous Olympic host city and an Olympic Museum will be yet another great asset for people to enjoy on the Park.” Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: "This is yet another fantastic example of how the 2012 Games are inspiring the building of new permanent attractions in this great city. Along with the spectacular ArcelorMittal Orbit , the Museum will help ensure the Olympic Park attracts visitors to the park for generations to come. More importantly it would become another major asset supporting and driving new job creation in east London."
International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge said: “It was with great pleasure that I received the BOA’s intention to open a British Olympic Museum within the Olympic Park after London 2012. I am a firm believer that the Olympic Games are not only about gold medals, world records and unforgettable sporting competition. At their core they are about people. They can bring out the best of humanity and all that we can achieve when we strive to be the best at something. The new British Olympic Museum is the place where these stories of human triumph and sacrifice will come to life and it will become part of the lasting legacy that London 2012 will leave the UK for generations to come.”
London 2012 Chairman Seb Coe said: “It is fantastic news that people here in London and visitors from all around the world will be able to re-live the passion, drama and magic moments created at the Games this summer for many years to come. The Museum will play a key role in educating and inspiring future generations through the Olympic values and represents another exciting legacy of the 2012 Games.”