©IOC Ester Franco Varon

Following a commission from the IOC, Niki de Saint-Phalle integrated the theme of sport into her work for the first time. She chose one of the world’s most popular sports, football. Even though she was exploring a new theme, her artistry and inimitable style remained. The final result is a polychrome resin sculpture composed of two characters with rounded figures. The lively colours used in this work, associated with the movement injected into the characters, express perfectly the speed of football players. Inaugurated on 12 October 1993, this sculpture is now exhibited in the park of The Olympic Museum in Lausanne. Indeed, as football is played outside, Niki de Saint-Phalle was keen for her work to be exhibited outdoors.