Olympic Games, mirror of society: free exhibition at the Shoah Memorial - our photos

100 years after the 1924 Paris Olympic Games, France is once again hosting this extraordinary international event this summer. The Shoah Memorial, where the Olympic flame will pass through on July 14, explores these decades of evolution through the Olympics, which reflect the society of their time. The Paris branch invites visitors to discover this free exhibition, from the end of March to July 2024, which highlights the issue of prejudice and discrimination, an opportunity to observe the changes over a hundred years.

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Through emblematic images of these sporting events, archive documents, films, extracts from the sporting press and personal accounts, the exhibition traces the history of the Olympic Games and its values, which have evolved over the years, with a focus on those of 1936, 1968 and 1972. For a long time, the Games were a far cry from the Olympic Charter, which states that sport should be practiced without discrimination, and excluded certain categories of the population, notably women.

Sometimes instrumentalized for political ends, the Olympic Games can be a mirror of the global context, as was the case during the Berlin Games, organized by Nazi Germany in 1936, an edition that left a particularly lasting impression. But the competition also serves to set an example in the fight against racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination in general, with courageous athletes often shaking things up.

This raises the question of Olympic values in today's constantly changing world, with the first ever parity in an Olympic Games. Educational and immersive, with a colorful scenography reminiscent of the Olympic rings, the exhibition features several alcoves, video capsules and athlete portraits, making history accessible to all audiences!

Open-air meetings and screenings are also organized to explore the subject in greater depth. Keep an eye on the program!