On 18 May, the Beijing Olympic Museum held a variety of outreach activities in celebration of the International Museum Day 2024. This year’s International Museum Day was themed “Museums for Education and Research,” emphasizing the vital role of cultural institutions in providing comprehensive educational experiences for the public.

On the morning of the day, a study tour dedicated to Olympic mascots took place at the museum, with the theme of “Happy Study Tour: The Olympic Mission of Cuties.”

At the beginning of the activity, every child got a handbook titled The Olympic Mission of Cuties and read the handbook under the guidance of the instructor.

（Children study the handbook under the guidance of the instructor at the Beijing Olympic Museum）

In order to give the children a more impressive and engaging experience, a series of fun activities was held after the study session, including the icebreaker game, review game, lucky draw, creative graffiti, and collection of the Olympic Museum limited-edition badges.

During the icebreaker game, the children introduced themselves and talked about their favourite Olympic mascot.

（A child speaks in the icebreaker game）

The review game originates from the recently concluded First OVEP Train the Trainer Workshop. During the game, the children stood around in a circle, turning turns to bounce the ball while telling the knowledge points about Olympic mascots they just learned. For example, Shuey Rhon Rhon, a mascot of the Beijing 2022 Games, was prototyped on Chinese lantern, and the Olympic Phryge, the Paris 2024 mascot, takes the shape of a traditional Phrygian cap.

（Children participate in the review game）

During the lucky draw following the review game, the children were divided into three groups, and each group was allowed to choose one blind box containing a mascot for the subsequent creative graffiti. The three chosen mascots were Nini, one of the Beijing 2008 mascots, Soohorang, the mascot of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and Olympic Phryge, the mascot of the upcoming Paris 2024.

（Luck draw）

The children doodled around the theme of “Olympic Mascots and Their Chinese Friends.” One representative of each group shared their source of inspiration.

（Children doodle the mascot Nini）

（Children doodle the mascot Soohorang）

（Children doodle the mascot Olympic Phryge）

（Children share their source of inspiration–Nini）

（Children share their source of inspiration–Soohorang）

（Children share their source of inspiration–Olympic Phryge）

Tian Yuanbao, Deputy Curator of the Beijing Olympic Museum, presented the souvenirs to the children and took a group photo with them.

（A group photo of Tian Yuanbao and the children）

At the end of the event, the children stamped their handbooks with the seal especially designed by the Beijing Olympic Museum for the International Museum Day 2024.

（Children get their handbook stamped）

Jing Huizi, Director of the Public Outreach Department of the Beijing Olympic Museum, introduced that the activities aim to impart Olympic knowledge to the children and deepen their love for the country, cultivate their imagination and creativity, improve their expressive and practical skills, and imbue the children with the Olympic values in a fun and engaging manner.

Compiled by the Beijing Olympic Museum, the handbook “The Olympic Mission of the Cuties” vividly illustrates the history and role of Olympic mascots and introduces the mascots of various editions of the Olympic Summer and Winter Games, with a focus on the Beijing 2008 and Beijing 2022 Games. In view of the characteristics of study tours, the handbook contains a sequence of fun questions that can be used for interaction.

（The handbook “The Olympic Mission of the Cuties”）

The First OVEP Train the Trainer Workshop concluded at the Beijing Olympic Museum on 26 April. Hosted by the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage, the Workshop was organised by the Beijing Olympic Museum with the support of the Chinese Olympic Committee and is the first of its kind held in China by the International Olympic Committee. The Workshop aims to implement OVEP activities at the Beijing Olympic Museum to promote and disseminate the Olympic spirit and values and train OVEP trainers for China. Ultimately, this will enable more Chinese youngsters to be familiar with the Olympics, practice the Olympic spirit and benefit from OVEP.

（The First OVEP Train the Trainer Workshop held some time ago）

It is learned that the seal especially designed by the Beijing Olympic Museum for the International Museum Day 2024 will be placed on the information desk at the entrance to the Beijing Olympic Museum, and any visitor who takes interest can use it.

On the afternoon of the day, the Beijing Olympic Museum held the “Olympics in Books” reading activity. Three guests who are dedicated to promoting the Olympic culture and education shared with over 30 audience members the Olympic themed books they brought, as well as their own stories related to the Olympics.

（The sharing session）

Liu Yue, Party Secretary and Deputy Curator of the Beijing Olympic Museum, introduced the Olympic Manifesto to the audiences.

（Liu Yue speaks in the sharing session）

Liu Nan, Deputy Director of the Research Department of the  Beijing Olympic City Development Centre, introduced the book titled Treasure Collection of Shanghai Sports Museum.

（Liu Nan speaks in the sharing session）

Xue Dong, head of Dianchang Road Primary School in Shijingshan District, Beijing, talked around the theme “Fond Memories of childhood – My Journey to the Winter Olympics.”

（Xue Dong speaks in the sharing session）

Then, several audience members also shared their Olympic related stories.

（An audience member shares his Olympic related stories）

According to staff of the Beijing Olympic Museum, this is the first time that the museum has launched an Olympic themed reading activity, with the over 60 books in its collection being made available to the public for the first time ever. The goal of the event is to build a great platform of reading and interaction for visitors who care for and are passionate about the Olympic Movement. In the future, the Beijing Olympic Museum will organise more Olympic themed reading activities, make good use of its book holdings and fully leverage its unique strength as a non-profit organisation tasked with carrying forward the Olympic legacy to provide high-quality Olympic themed cultural services for the public.