The 2024 Paris Olympics might be at an end, but that doesn’t mean the excitement, unity, and unparalleled athleticism associated with the Games will no longer be celebrated. In fact, the United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum (USOPM) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, keeps that (metaphorical) torch burning year-round.
Known as Olympic City USA, Colorado Springs is home to several Olympic and Paralympic organizations, including the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center. The USOPM opened to the public as the country’s only Olympic and Paralympic museum in 2020. Why is Colorado Springs a hub for the Games, you might ask? This mountain community’s 6,035-foot elevation makes it the ideal destination for high-altitude training, drawing thousands of world-class athletes to the city every year.
“We are home to the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic legacy, igniting dreams through athlete stories and inspiring excellence in all whom we serve,” says Hannah Henthorne, sales and development coordinator for USOPM. “Many groups come here to tie the themes of success, perseverance, and inspiration into a curriculum or workplace team-building strategy. We seek to share not only artifacts but also the stories behind the success of Team USA athletes.”
According to Henthorne, the museum regularly hosts groups of more than 100 guests, able to accommodate groups large and small. Estimated to take about two hours, guests can explore 13 galleries that feature interactive games, an immersive Parade of Nations experience, a complete collection of Olympic medals and torches, and a short film at the end of the tour.
Upon arrival, guests receive a Visitor Credential programmed with content specific to their accessibility needs and interests related to the Games. Each badge is compatible with the digital displays found throughout each exhibit, creating an experience that is personally tailored to each guest. These badges grant guests access to their very own Digital Locker, a virtual space filled with memories gathered throughout their tour as they interact with exhibits.
“From a touchscreen map of the United States highlighting hometowns of Olympians and Paralympians to the digital Hall of Fame gallery, there are many opportunities to flag and save content that gets sent to each guest’s Digital Locker,” explains Henthorne. “This creates an extended educational experience. Our Athlete Training Gallery offers six interactive sport exhibits that are a crowd favorite. Guests can try out archery, skeleton, skiing, sled hockey, or goalball, and they can also race a Team USA Olympian or Paralympian on the 30-meter track.”
Beyond the exhibits, the USOPM building is a marvel in and of itself. “There are subtle design features throughout that highlight various Olympic records,” says Henthorne. “For example, the four balconies that overlook our atrium are physical representations of the men’s and women’s pole vault records, as well as the men’s and women’s long jump records. To look up or even stand at those balconies is an eye-opener to the sheer skill these athletes have. Another cool architectural nuance is the shape of the building itself, which is based off the spin of a discus thrower. The spiral shape of the interior and exterior mimics a discus thrower in motion, and the Flame Cafe that sits just to the north of the building is the discus itself.”
Credit: Richard Bittles
As a core philosophy of the USOPM, accessibility is a theme guests will notice throughout the building. All galleries feature wheelchair-accessible, gentle-grade ramps. When receiving their Visitor Credentials, guests can choose preferred audiovisual services that include audio-described video, text-to-speech screen readers, high contrast, and larger font sizes. Upon request, guests might also use the facility’s transport chairs and sensory bags containing special badges, fidget tools, and noise-canceling headphones.
Make a day of your group’s visit with an on-site meal. Many groups use the Education Center behind the Flame Cafe to eat preordered or sack lunches. This space holds up to 50 tourgoers and offers panoramic views of Pikes Peak and the Front Range. Larger groups can also gather in the atrium or, weather permitting, enjoy lunch on the Plaza Steps right outside the museum’s front doors.
And while your group is there, make sure your guests keep an eye out for their favorite athletes. “We see Team USA athletes come through the museum frequently,” Henthorne says. “We gather the visiting athlete and guests in the atrium and on the balconies and give the athlete a round of applause as a welcome and thank-you. It’s a great way to get guests involved, and it highlights the achievements of our Team USA athletes. Carly Patterson is the 2004 Olympic all-around champion in gymnastics and was recently here for a watch party and meet-and-greet. She signed autographs for the public and did a private brunch for some of our local gymnastics studios. You never know who is going to visit!”
By Madeline Fuerstenberg
Main Image: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum, Colorado Springs, Colorado; Credit: Jason O’Rear
