Opening at Paris’s Louvre Museum on April 24, “Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” celebrates the history of the Olympics and its designs from ancient times to today. The exhibition comes as Paris prepares to host its third Olympic Games, a whole century since it lasted hosted the event in 1924.

The show delves into the history and political context that birthed the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, tracing how its organizers sought to reimagine the gaming tournaments of ancient Greece. Celebrated here are figures, namely Pierre de Courbetin—known as the “Father of the modern Olympic Games“—as well as the event’s first official artist, French-Swiss artist Émile Gilliéron, and the first President of the International Olympic Committee, Dimitrios Vikélas.

Bréal Cup awarded to Spyridon Louis in 1896. © Stavros Niarchos Foundation.

One starring artifact is the very first Olympic Cup. It was awarded to a Greek water carrier called Spyridon Louis, who was the first-ever winner of the marathon race, which had been invented by the French linguist Michel Bréal for the inaugural modern Games in 1896. The ‘Bréal Cup’ has never before been exhibited in Paris.

Luc Olivier Merson, The Marathon Soldier. © Beaux Arts Paris.

Other commemorative objects round out the exhibition, not limited to postage stamps and flyers immortalizing the games. Ancient vessels and sculptures depicting runners, wrestlers, and disc-throwers further illustrate how Olympic sports have captured the creative imagination through the ages.

Plaster Plaque. © French School of Athens.

The exhibition is part of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games’ cultural program. Ahead of the competition—the Olympic Games commence July 26 and the Paralympic Games August 28—the city of Paris has unveiled this year’s medals, which were designed by jeweler Chaumet and are embedded with iron bits from the Eiffel Tower. Foreseeing a swell of visitors, museums in Paris, including the Louvre, have also raised admission fees.

Sneak a peek at the objects in the exhibition below.

Red Figure Cup. © RMN Grand Palais Louvre Museum.

Child’s Sarcophagus. © RMN Grand Palais Louvre Museum.

Commemorative Cover for 1896 Athens Olympic Games. © Olympic Museum Collections.

Modern Plaster Medici Wrestlers. © RMN Grand Palais Louvre Museum.

Commemorative Stamp for 1906 Mesolympiad. © Museum of Philately and Posts Athens.

Trophy Designs for 1906 Mesolympiad. © École Française d’Espagne.

Mesolympiad 1906 Marathon and Athletics Trophy. © Thessaloniki Olympic Museum.

Plaster Relief. © French School of Athens.

Runner Statuette. © The Trustees of the British Museum.

Commemorative Stamp for 1906 Mesolympiad. © Museum of Philately and Posts Athens.

Red Figure Cup. © RMN Grand Palais Louvre Museum.

“Olympism: Modern Invention, Ancient Legacy” is on view at the Louvre, Paris, April 24 through September 16.