World Athletics launches MOWA, a virtual 3D sports museum

World Athletics (WA) has launched an immersive 3D experience in the form of a virtual museum that highlights the biggest stars and moments in athletics history. The Museum of World Athletics, or MOWA, is free to view, and it takes visitors through time while showcasing more than 60 exhibits and over 400 items. 

Visiting MOWA

You start in a hall featuring athletics displays from the six continents that host events (there have been races on Antarctica, but these are apparently not included in the museum). From there, you move into the “Origins Tunnel,” which starts with exhibits from 3,000 years ago and moves right through to modern day athletics.

RELATED: World Athletics announces new Road World Championships

At this point, you reach the World Championships Room, where all 17 editions of WA’s track and field world championships are highlighted. Included in the many exhibits are items that belonged to some of the biggest names in athletics, including Jesse Owens, Allyson Felix, Usain Bolt and more. Visitors will see spikes, medals, race uniforms and many other items that came from legends of the sport. 

“We are delighted to be the first international sport federation to bring a 3D virtual sports museum to a global audience,” WA president Seb Coe said in a press release. “Through MOWA, sport and museums fans from around the world will, without the geographical limitations of a physical location, be able to discover the fascinating history of athletics, and the amazing achievements of our athletes.”

RELATED: World Athletics to give $500,000 in athlete relief

Coe added that seeing as athletics “is the most accessible and diverse sport in the world,” WA is excited to create an equally accessible platform in MOWA, which is free to visit and can be viewed on any device. 

World Athletics launches the world’s first 3D virtual sports museum.#MOWA

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) March 15, 2021

Creating MOWA

According to WA, thanks to the 3D technology used to design MOWA, the virtual museum looks quite real. MOWA was a joint collaboration between WA, a digital sport company called dcSPORT and Jason Gardener, a former Olympic gold medallist and world indoor 60m champion who “brought his expertise and passion for the sport to the project.” 

RELATED: World Athletics pushes for more female coaches

The museum took six months to design and launch, and WA hopes to add to it over time. The next exhibit planned for MOWA will be Olympic-focused, and it will open in July ahead of the Tokyo Games. 

MOWA is available now and completely free, and it offers commentary in English and French. Click here to learn more.