Sports Tourism Media visited ‘The Olympic Museum’ (TOM) last summer to relive the greatest moments in Olympic history and to discover a truly unique cultural and sporting resource. Thus, we are delighted to interview Angelita Teo, who joined the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the Director of the Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) in October of 2019. She brings with her a wealth of expertise and influence in the cultural sector from Singapore, as their former Senior Director of the National Heritage Board (NHB) of Singapore and Director of the National Museum of Singapore (NMS). See how sport, travel and culture continue to impact on Angelita’s lifestyle…
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What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why?
What started out as a cruise to the South Pacific Islands of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, ended up being the most memorable sporting holiday for me. On this trip, I tried extreme outdoor sports for the first time, and survived to tell the tale! They ranged from the mild ones like kayaking on Dumbea River at Port Noumea to abseiling down a 55m waterfall at Port Vila, the capital and largest city of Vanuatu!
What was the best sporting venue you had a chance to visit through your position and why?
As I have only started my position at the IOC very recently, the sporting venue which I had a chance to visit was the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid. It was one of the largest stadium I have ever been in, with a seating capacity of over 80,000! But my main reason for being there was to visit their Museum. The Real Madrid Museum is really a treasure trove for fans, the display of all the cups won by the club and information of the players over the years. The excitement of the people who were there that day was amazing, you can really feel the joy and pride.
If you could choose one adrenaline or adventure activity to do on holiday what would it be and where?
I honestly think my days of adrenaline or adventure activity is over, I am just glad that I had the opportunities in my younger days. The most adventurous thing I might still consider doing is probably a Self-Drive 4WD Desert Safari.
What’s the ultimate sporting tournament you would attend purely as a fan and/or spectator and why?
Wimbledon! Tennis was my biggest love growing up. Although I did have the chance to attend the Australian Open in 2000, going to Wimbledon and having strawberries and champagne has always been a dream.
TOM is a truly multigenerational facility giving groups of varying ages a unique Sports Travel experience, which part of The Olympic Museum resonates with you most?
The Olympic Museum has many things to offer Olympic fans and sports enthusiasts, but as a Museum professional I unfortunately look at very different things when walking through the museum. I notice things like lighting, interactives, showcases, etc.. Therefore, what strikes me and resonates with me is the work that goes into successfully presenting such a complex Olympic heritage and the multitude of stories that are told. One key strength of TOM is like you said, its ability to successfully reach out to multigenerational visitors from different backgrounds and nationalities.
In your role as Director of The Olympic Foundation for Culture & Heritage you must have travelled widely, does any specific country impress you through their ‘sport tourism’ cultural offering (venues/ activities/ natural landscape)?
Being in the cultural arena for more than 20 years, where traveling and visiting museums are part of the job scope, I have had many opportunities to visit amazing places. One highlight was definitely the trip to Olympia in 2013, and not knowing that I would be joining the IOC a few years later.
TOM provides a great INCENTIVE activity for companies, groups and families, do you think the interactive exhibits and even natural setting of TOM is good for mental health?
Cultural activities have been known to be great for many things, and whether you are a participant or an audience, I definitely believe they are great outlets for mental well-being. In fact, cultural activities are particularly important for both the young and old, like sports, to develop important life skills, such as confidence, self-discipline, and more.
For further information on TOM head to https://www.olympic.org/museum