A young photographer surrounded by stars

Photo: DR

In 1964, Raymond Depardon had been employed for four years as a reporter photographer for the Dalmas agency. He was then sent to Tokyo to cover the Summer Olympics and thus took his first steps as a sports photographer. A winning attempt since he finally officiated during five Olympics, until the Moscow Games in 1980.

During these events, the famous photographer learns that, to capture the beauty of the moment, you have to get ahead of it. Thus he manages to immobilize the feat, strength and extreme emotion: the despair of Michel Jazy after his defeat in the 5 m event in Tokyo (000), the dazzling joy of Colette Besson winning the 1964 m in Mexico City (400), the legendary Olympic treble of Jean-Claude Killy in Grenoble (1968), the grace and perfection of the Romanian gymnast Nadia Comaneci in Montreal (1968)… images now engraved in the history of sport.

But, carried by his expertise as a great reporter, Raymond Depardon freezes other moments, historical facts and going well beyond the sporting framework: in 1968, he immortalized the raised fist of African-American athletes in Mexico City, then in 1972, during the Munich Olympics, he witnessed the hostage taking of the Israeli delegation. The stadium and history, culture and sport.

A unique scenography

Composed of more than 130 black and white photographs, the “Olympic Games” exhibition by Raymond Depardon is presented in a new and original scenography at the National Sports Museum. Completed in particular by a mediation offering to analyze "the photographer's eye" with the help of archives, sounds and period devices, it traces this extraordinary itinerary of a gifted photographer for whom "the sport is perhaps the specialty that teaches you to “see” well ”.

Pratical information

• From October 19 to February 17
• Free entry for children under 18
• Full price: € 6 / Reduced price: € 3
• Guided tours and family workshops offered during the exhibition

More information : www.museedusport.fr