16. Paris 2024 Impact on the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum with USOPM CEO Marisa Wigglesworth

Farrell Sports Business

Episode 16 - Host Matt Farrell talks with Marisa Wigglesworth, CEO of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is Olympic City USA. She discusses the museum's mission to inspire visitors and celebrate the legacies of Olympic and Paralympic athletes. She highlights the unique visitor experience, the interactive exhibits, and the commitment to showcasing Paralympians alongside Olympians. Wigglesworth also talks about the fundraising environment for museums and the challenges they face. She shares her career journey and emphasizes the importance of loving what you do. The conversation concludes with an invitation for people to visit and engage with its offerings.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction of Marisa Wigglesworth, CEO of U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
02:01 About the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
03:02 Her Role at USOPM
03:44 The Impact of the Olympic Games on the Museum
04:12 The Museum Experience During an Olympics and Paralympics
05:31 Her Paris Experience
06:57 Attraction to the Role as CEO of USOPM
09:08 Her Impressions of the Job vs. Reality Coming In
11:13 The Visitor Experience at the Museum
13:05 Favorite Artifacts and Interactive Experiences
16:36 Items from Paris She Would Like to See in the Museum
16:54 The Stephen Nedoroscik Glasses and Rubik's Cube!
17:34 The Business of Museums and Fundraising
19:22 Unique Differences in Fundraising for Sports vs. Other Charities
20:43 What to Expect at the Museum with Paralympic Games
21:50 Marisa Career Start Generally and in Sports
24:11 Career Advice and Final Thoughts
Takeaways
- The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum is a world-class organization that aims to inspire visitors and celebrate the legacies of Olympic and Paralympic athletes.
- The museum offers a unique and immersive visitor experience, with interactive exhibits that allow visitors to race against Olympians and Paralympians.
- The museum is committed to showcasing Paralympians alongside Olympians, reflecting the parallel nature of the Paralympic Games.
- Fundraising for museums, including the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum, can be challenging, with philanthropy becoming more difficult in recent years.
- Marisa Wigglesworth emphasizes the importance of loving what you do and encourages people to visit and engage with the museum's offerings.
Intro Song: All World
Artist: JMPSCR
7FDVISE1POBJCOMV