The Olympic Museums Network (OMN) has officially welcomed two new members — the Australian Sports Museum and the Rio Olympic Museum — strengthening its international presence with a total of 37 member institutions worldwide.

The announcement came during the 19th General Assembly of the OMN, hosted at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in February 2025. With this milestone, the Australian Sports Museum becomes the first institution from Oceania to join the network, marking a significant geographical expansion for OMN. Meanwhile, the Rio Olympic Museum — a cultural legacy of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games — now stands as the third South American institution to gain membership in the global network.

The Australian Sports Museum (ASM), originally inaugurated as the National Sports Museum in 2008, proudly stands within the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground. In 2024, over 175,000 visitors and students explored its immersive exhibits. Dedicated to showcasing the nation’s vibrant sporting heritage, ASM embraces sport’s profound ability to reflect Australia’s identity. Housing more than 60,000 historical artefacts, the museum honours a diverse array of sports and athletes, with a strong spotlight on Australia’s Olympic journey. One of the museum’s most admired spaces, the “Olympic Gallery,” features treasured items such as the Melbourne 1956 Olympic cauldron and the dazzling attire worn during the Sydney 2000 Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Set to make its debut in late 2025, the Rio Olympic Museum (ROM) is poised to become a prominent cultural landmark, born out of the legacy of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Nestled on the upper tier of the Rio Olympic Velodrome in Barra Olympic Park, this 1,640-square-metre facility is envisioned to attract around 200,000 annual visitors, including an estimated 25,000 schoolchildren. Through engaging digital displays and storytelling, the museum will chronicle the full arc of Rio 2016—from its successful bid to its enduring social and environmental contributions.

More than just a tribute to sport, ROM aims to be an innovative educational space, underscoring the Games’ transformative impact on the city and its people. Among its star attractions will be the Rio 2016 Olympic torch, which travelled across Brazil. The Velodrome itself will remain a vibrant venue, hosting both sporting events and cultural festivities in tandem with the museum experience.

The Olympic Museums Network (OMN), led by the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, brings together global institutions committed to preserving and promoting the Olympic spirit. With a mission rooted in excellence, respect, friendship, and solidarity, OMN serves as a collaborative platform where members share best practices in storytelling, conservation, and educational engagement. Through shared efforts, the network seeks to ignite inspiration and foster deeper understanding of Olympic heritage in communities across the world.

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