Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The National Museum of Sport came into being in 1963, when Maurice Herzog, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, entrusted Georges-Henri Rivière and Jean Durry with the task of creating a museum dedicated to sport. The aim is to gather objects, works of art and archives illustrating the evolution of sports practices, with particular attention to French champions and federations. After a first installation at the Parc des Princes in 1979, the museum opened its galleries to the public in 1988, before closing in 1998 for the World Cup of Football.

In 2004, the museum obtained the label Musée de France and became a public administrative institution in 2006. A new exhibition space opened in Paris (13th) in 2008, presenting rare pieces such as the first Olympic trophy or Marcel Cerdan's gloves. However, a settlement project in Nice is emerging: a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2010 between the Ministry of Sports, the city and the museum. After a massive move in 2013 (45,000 objects and 400,000 documents transferred), the museum finally reopens its doors on 27 June 2014 in the Allianz Riviera Stadium, designed by Wilmotte & Associés.

The collections, covering from the 16th to the 20th century, explore five main areas: the history of sports practices, the technical evolution of equipment, the artistic interpretation of sport, its role in society, and the memories of the champions. The museum imposes itself as a unique heritage treasure, mixing fine arts, ethnology and history, with various backgrounds (drawing, painting, sculpture, photographs, archives). Its installation in Nice marks a new stage, integrating sport into a modern architectural setting.

The current building, inaugurated in 2013, is part of the Allianz Riviera Stadium complex. Although the museum is a dedicated space, its contemporary architecture (signed Wilmotte & Associés) reflects the sporting and cultural dynamics of the French Riviera. However, the accuracy of its location remains poor (note 5/10), with an approximate address at 73 Boulevard des Jardiniers.

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