German Sports & Olympics Museum

Do you know the Owen Defense? Do you prefer playing a King's Indian setup? Do you know what we're talking about here – and is chess even sport? Or dressage? Or Formula 1 racing? What about the phenomenon of physical education, the concept of sport as a culture of body and movement, which was once presented antithetically by Turnvater Jahn (the founder of the German gymnastics movement from the 19th century)? Isn't that the "truer" sport after all?

All of this is sport – physical strength training or purely mental competitions: healthy and often delightful. And sports also have a remarkable history, presented as 2,500 years of sports and Olympic history in the German Sport and Olympic Museum. It focuses on the more popular sports that emphasize the physical-athletic aspect, in a vivid manner – detailed and immersive.

Highlights: From "Kaiser Franz's" football boots to the Olympic torch

What do an ancient discus thrower, a 1972 Olympic champion, and a modern e-sports champion have in common? Their stories, all of which come alive at the Sport and Olympic Museum in Cologne. Here, sport becomes a language understood by everyone – across generations and cultures.

The museum's concept ensures a lively presentation, showcasing Boris Becker's tennis racket, Max Schmeling's world championship ring, or Michael Schumacher's Benetton Renault, as well as the torches from the London and Sochi Olympic Games.

You'll walk across a tartan track or pedal in the wind tunnel. Original objects and film installations are offered. Highlights also include recurring special exhibitions.

About the Exhibition: Sport from Antiquity to the Present

In summary, at the German Sport and Olympic Museum, you will find exhibits, interactive installations, and explanations of all physical phenomena of sports on over 2,000 square meters of space – from antiquity through German gymnastics or the Olympic Games and athletics to boxing, football, motorsport, or winter sports. The focus is on the Olympic Games, German gymnastics, athletics, football, as well as sports and art.

The permanent exhibition with a classic tour showcases around 2,000 exhibit pieces from a collection of 120,000 objects. There are various themed tours for groups – and children's birthdays are also happily celebrated here.

Location and Architecture: Sports at the Cologne Rheinauhafen

The museum is housed in "Zollhalle 10" – a former warehouse of the Rheinauhafen, extensively remodeled for the museum's purpose. The special character of the listed customs hall has been preserved, with many architectural and historical elements restored to their original state.

Added were a glass staircase on the exterior facade, an internal open elevator, and the rooftop terrace. Architecturally, the two sports fields located on the roof are considered spectacular. Here, visitors can play football, tennis, or basketball, with views of the Cathedral and Father Rhine, and in the immediate vicinity of the Chocolate Museum.

The story behind it: a national sports museum in Cologne

As early as 1982, the non-profit "Association for the German Sports Museum" established Cologne as the location for a national sports museum. Numerous organizations joined the association to support its development and to engage in both the curation of the sports history collection and the acquisition of funding. Finally, in 1999, the museum opened its doors to visitors.