‘From Ivo to Mondo’ exhibition in Brussels
World Athletics Heritage and the Museum of World Athletics have partnered with the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, Lotto and Golazo to present a free exhibition celebrating five decades of one of athletics' great meetings.
What began as a tribute to Belgian middle-distance runner Ivo Van Damme has become one of the world's most prestigious athletics meetings. Now the story of its first 50 years is being told through a new exhibition in the heart of Brussels.
‘From Ivo to Mondo’ was officially opened on Friday (7), ahead of its public opening on Saturday 8 August at the Lottery Shop on Place De Brouckère. The exhibition runs until Sunday 6 September, the day after the Memorial hosts the Wanda Diamond League Final at the King Baudouin Stadium.
The Memorial Van Damme was established in 1977 in memory of Ivo Van Damme, who died in a car accident only months after winning Olympic silver medals in both the 800m and 1500m at the Montreal Olympic Games.
Organised in collaboration with World Athletics Heritage and the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA), the exhibition tells the story of the meeting through artefacts donated by some of the greatest athletes in Memorial Van Damme history. Historical programmes, archive documents and memorabilia help to bring five decades of performances and memories to life.
The official opening featured speeches from Jannie Haek, CEO of the National Lottery; Wilfried Meert, co-founder and president of the Memorial Van Damme; and Sylvia Barlag, World Athletics Council Member, representing World Athletics. In her remarks, Barlag highlighted the long relationship between World Athletics and the Memorial Van Damme, which dates back to the inaugural meeting in 1977.
Opening of the ‘From Ivo to Mondo’ exhibition
Among the documents on display is a letter from the Royal Belgian Athletics League asking the international federation to support Daring Leuven, Ivo Van Damme’s club, in finding a suitable date for the inaugural Memorial, in coordination with the 1977 World Cup in Düsseldorf.
The exhibition also highlights the Memorial's unique place in the evolution of international athletics. Since its creation in 1977, the meeting has accompanied every major step in the professionalisation of athletics and in the development of the international calendar: the Golden Series, the Grand Prix, the Golden Four, the Golden League and finally the Diamond League, whose 2026 Final returns to Brussels in September.
For Barlag, the occasion also had a personal dimension. She competed in the high jump at the Memorial Van Damme in 1980 and recalled the years she trained in Belgium under coach Wilfried Geeroms.
The ribbon was cut by Kim Gevaert, meeting director of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme and 2008 Olympic 4x100m champion, marking the official opening of the exhibition.
Five showcases chart five decades of athletics excellence, from Ivo Van Damme’s generation to today’s stars. Among the artefacts presented for the first time:
- The complete competition kit worn by Noureddine Morceli at the 1991 World Championships in Tokyo. The Algerian middle-distance great won three times at the Memorial Van Damme and still holds the meeting’s mile record with 3:47.30.
- Shoes worn by Daniel Komen, whose 12:39.74 world 5000m record in Brussels in 1997 remains one of the defining performances in Memorial history.
- The 2022 Commonwealth Games singlet of Elaine Thompson-Herah, who has run 10.54 for 100m and shares the Brussels 100m meeting record at 10.72.
- The kit worn by Melissa Jefferson-Wooden at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, where she became a triple world sprint champion.
The exhibition also captures the distinctive personality of the Memorial Van Damme beyond the track. Its history has been shaped by a strong local identity, artistic posters and trophies, and social and philanthropic initiatives that have connected the meeting with Belgian society.
“For World Athletics Heritage, this project reflects exactly the role we want to play: bringing athletics history to life and using powerful storytelling to inspire new generations,” said Barlag.
Visitors can also collect a new series of collector postcards during the exhibition, each highlighting another chapter of the Memorial Van Damme story.
‘From Ivo to Mondo’ is open to the public from 8 August to 6 September at the Lottery Shop, Place De Brouckère, Brussels. Admission is free. Opening hours are 10:00–20:00.
Pierre-Jean Vazel for World Athletics Heritage
