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In the run-up to the 50th edition of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme – at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels on 4 and 5 September– the Memorial Expo offers a unique visual journey through time. Visitors are immersed in the rich history of the country’s greatest athletics meeting and in the impressive, all too brief, career of Ivo Van Damme.
Visitors can admire his Olympic silver medals and many other medals and trophies that the Belgian hero of the 1976 Montreal Games collected at a young age. You can also discover his spikes, official competition outfits and a tracksuit in the colours of his favourite football club, RWDM. The exhibition also offers a unique insight into the training logs that Ivo meticulously kept, featuring colourful charts, competition goals and personal comments.
Telegrams congratulating him on his Olympic success in Montreal, alongside telegrams of condolence sent after his untimely death just a few months later, offer a deeply emotional experience. Through family photo albums and interviews from years past, a vivid portrait emerges of the athlete, the charmer, and the endearing personality that Ivo was.
At the Memorial Expo ‘From Ivo to Mondo’, visitors will, of course, also learn the story of the very first Memorial: the official application to organise a meeting, the first poster, the first results booklet and much more.
Half a century on, the Van Damme Memorial is still a household name. The Memorial is a world-class event. Through text and images, the exhibition provides an overview of the international stars who have graced the Memorial over five decades, the world records, the most remarkable posters, the finest trophies and many other memorable moments.
In addition, the Museum of World Athletics is also adding dozens of special artefacts from major figures in athletics history, all of whom have a connection to the Memorial – from Alberto Juantorena to Carl Lewis and Usain Bolt, right through to Mondo Duplantis.
“The 50th edition of the Memorial is not only the perfect occasion for us to celebrate with many special activities, but also to look back,” says Kim Gevaert, Meeting Director of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. “We want to revisit the origins and early days of the meeting, its evolution over the years, and above all the incredible athletes we have welcomed and the phenomenal performances we have witnessed. And all of this started because Ivo Van Damme believed Belgium deserved a meeting like this. That is why we also want to shine a spotlight on his legacy once again.”
The exhibition is hosted by Lotto, which has been a continuous partner of the Memorial since its earliest editions.
“As the National Lottery, we have proudly supported the Memorial Van Damme from the very beginning. This long-standing commitment perfectly reflects what we stand for: being close to the people, supporting sport, talent, and social connection. We are proud to welcome the public to our Lottery Shop in Brussels to share the rich history and unique heritage of the Memorial. In doing so, we pay tribute not only to fifty years of athletics history, but also to an event that has inspired generations of Belgians and continues to do so today,” says Jannie Haek, CEO of the Belgian National Lottery.
From tomorrow/Saturday onwards, everyone is welcome to visit the exhibition on the first floor of the Lottery Shop on Place De Brouckère in the heart of Brussels until 6 September, the day after the 50th edition of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme. Admission is free and no reservation is required.
The exhibition is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., on Thursdays and Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.