Olympic exhibition receives Heritage Lottery grant

A YOUTH project about the Olympics run by the River & Rowing Museum in Henley has received a £32,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Blood, Sweat and Tears: the Olympic Experience explores the modern and ancient Games and investigates the collections of the museum and the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology at the University of Reading.

Young people from the Henley area have interviewed past and present Olympians and Paralympians after being mentored by students from the university and professionals in film-making and interview techniques.

The interviews will be entered into the museum’s collection, building on its oral history archive and preserving the experience of GB athletes for future visitors to access.

The project will culminate in an exhibition called Designing the Olympics and a family sports day on August 18.

The museum is working with Henley Town Council and the town’s sports clubs.

Helen Cook, head of learning, said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and are very much looking forward to engaging young people in this exciting new project.”