Imagine getting to see an orange-coloured vest sported by American track and field legend Jesse Owen, who, won four gold medals at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Or an outfit worn by Jamaican sprinter Veronica Campbell-Brown, a three-time World and eight-time Olympic medallist, who grabbed two consecutive Olympic 200m events.
If that is not enough to get your heartbeat fluttering, let it soar with a t-shirt worn by Australian Sydney Olympics Games star Cathy Freeman or celebrated American track and field hero Carl Lewis’s signed running jersey in red.
For athletics fans, who may relate to present day heroes there’s Qatar’s very own Mutaz Barshim’s outfit in which he won the bronze medal at the London Olympiad. And then, there’s the king of kings — eleven-time World and eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt’s vest in Jamaican colours right here, right now — signed for posterity!
Medals won by names that matter in the world of track and field, jerseys worn by famous athletes, footwear used by legends of the sport in the last 80 or 90 years are on display on the third floor of City Center where the world’s largest athletics exhibition is on display since April this year.
Five months ago, the exhibition was launched in the presence of IAAF Heritage Director Chris Turner, Qatar stars Barshim, Abderrahman Samba and IAAF President Sebastian Coe.
Barshim and popular sprinter Samba handed over their pre-announced donations of kits in front of excited fans.
Barshim, the reigning world high jump champion, presented his London Games vest and number while Samba looked happy to hand over the bodysuit which he wore when he won the 400m hurdles at the 2018 IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava last year.
Coe, who is the IAAF chief now, handed over his 1984 Olympic Games spikes and national vest from his famous second 1,500m Olympic victory he posted in Los Angeles for the Doha exhibition.
“Athletics is an ancient sport but there is nothing old about how this exhibition displays our history,” Coe said at the launch ceremony held in Doha.
“There are huge audio photo walls, LED screens showing archive competition action. There’s the chance to explore the heights and weights of champions, lift the throwing implements, touch the hurdles and stand back in awe and admire the world record heights and distances of the jumpers.
“Add to those attractions, there are hundreds of items of wonderful athletics clothing and equipment donated and loaned by some of the greatest stars of our sport on display. This exhibition is a must see for all sports fans,” Coe, 62, added.
The exhibition closes on Monday, October 7, a day after the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships conclude in Doha.
The 10-day championships begin this Friday.
