The "Performance" Exhibition at the Gallerie in Trento

A journey through the history of the Olympics

As soon as you walk in, you are welcomed by a vault of mirrors that makes it seem as if you have entered an ice pyramid, immersing you in the atmosphere of the Winter Olympics. At this point, your journey into the history of the Olympics begins, including images, vintage film footage and an exhibit of posters from the different editions of the event. A new feature this year is a station dedicated to the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.

Then you get to the heart of the exhibition, to see up close the innovations that have revolutionised sport. Objects, materials, but also videos and the voices of the most important players, for an in-depth exploration of the different themes.

From the story of Nynsen, the Trentino company that made history with their production of cross-country skis, to the evolution of downhill ski design. From the developments in the creation of prosthetics for running, to the section that explains the importance of compacting the snow on the ski slopes, for both professional skiers and enthusiasts. 

Finally, you will discover that the first modern Olympic athletics tracks were covered with ash, to create a compact, uniform base, which however became "fatal" in the event of rain. Luckily, today there is tartan, which allows athletes' feet to bounce, reducing stress and restoring their energy.

Connecting Links

Performance is the second exhibition in this exhibition project, which is part of the Milano Cortina 2026 Cultural Olympics, as a journey leading us towards the Olympics. 

Connecting Links is taking place from 2024 to 2026, through three immersive exhibitions, held in the spectacular Gallerie di Trento. Each exhibition, one per year, explores the past, present and future of the Games, focusing attention on one particular topic. 

We began in 2024 with the exhibition "Records", which shone the spotlight on the topic of measurement, after which the journey continues in 2025 with the exhibition "Performance", and will finish in 2026 with the exhibition "Competitions", with a focus on the places where the Games have been held.

So over three years, we will immerse ourselves in the excitement of the 2026 Games, an event that will see two regions, Lombardy and Veneto, and two autonomous provinces, Trento and Bolzano, at the centre of the action. 

The "Performance" exhibition is curated by the Trentino History Museum Foundation and the Autonomous Province of Trento, with the cultural partnership of the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, and the Milano Cortina 2026 Foundation.