United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM) is a historical and cultural sports museum located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States,[1] first opened on July 30, 2020.[2] The museum is part of the City for Champions development project in Colorado Springs, though it licenses the Olympic name and operates separately from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). The museum recognizes Olympic and Paralympic athletes who have represented Team USA.[3]

United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Museum final construction 4 months prior to opening
EstablishedJuly 30, 2020 (2020-07-30)
LocationColorado Springs, Colorado
United States
TypeSports museum
CEOChristopher Liedel
CuratorBoyd Smith
ArchitectDiller Scofidio + Renfro
Websiteusopm.org
Olympic Museums Network

History

Groundbreaking for the museum was held on June 9, 2017.[4] As the home of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the first and main United States Olympic Training Center, and two dozen National Governing Bodies, Colorado Springs is an ideal home for the museum. The museum has a licensing agreement with the USOPC.[5]

Description

The $91 million, 60,000-square foot[6] museum is dedicated to American Olympic and Paralympic athletes and their stories. After guests enter the museum and receive their entry passes, the museum path starts with an elevator ride to the top floor. From there, inspired by the Guggenheim Museum, a ramped path leads downward to the main floor through the museum galleries. There are no steps.[1]

The museum is notably accessible (it is fully ADA compliant) and interactive, designed so guests of all abilities can see all the exhibitions and participate equally. Some of the technologies implemented include captions, descriptive audio tracks, ASL translations, assisted listening, RFID-enabled guest lanyards (e.g. text is automatically enlarged for visually-disabled visitors),[1] and accessible exhibition spaces and paths. Team USA athletes were involved and consulted throughout the project. Gallagher & Associates designed the museum's exhibitions.

The USOPM was designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro with an eye toward creating a building in motion; an overhead view of the building resembles a discus thrower in mid-throw.[7] The exterior of the museum is composed of 9,000 unique diamond-shaped reflective aluminum panels, with no two panels exactly alike.

It is located in the southwest part of downtown Colorado Springs, at the intersection of S. Sierra Madre Street and W. Vermijo Avenue.

As of 2020, the chief executive officer of the museum is Christopher Liedel.

Notable holdings and exhibitions

References
  1. Rinaldi, Ray Mark (21 October 2020). "All Athletes Are Equal Here". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  2. Meyer, John (18 October 2020). "Run against animated Olympic runners, race down a virtual slalom at this new Colorado museum". The Denver Post. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  3. "US Olympic museum to open July 30; will honor 1980 team". AP NEWS. 2020-07-20. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
  4. Pells, Eddie. "Governors Break Ground on U.S. Olympic Museum". The Denver Post.
  5. Zubeck, Pam. "Olympic Museum Strikes Deal with USOC". CS Indy.
  6. Blumenthal, Betsy (3 August 2020). "The U.S. Has Its First Museum Dedicated to the Olympics and Paralympics". Condé Nast Traveler. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  7. Earls, Stephanie. "Colorado Springs Olympic Museum Has Inspiration in Its Bones". Colorado Springs Gazette.

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