Rochester Sports Museum is getting into the Olympic spirit with a new exhibition

The Olympic collection will be on show until September 30 and includes a range of items on loan from past Olympians including Rio Olympian Tim Decker and London Olympian Sam Willoughby.

Cycling identity Decker has loaned his impressive collection including uniforms, racing gloves, race bike shoes, signed team jerseys and other items.

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BMX rider Willoughby took home Australia's only ever medal in BMX at the London games and has loaned his 2016 silver medal and winning BMX helmet for the display.

Project manager Sandra Watkins the display had come up really well with many visitors opting to take a photo with the Olympic torch display.

"We've had visitors every day since the exhibition has been opened with many visitors returning the sports museum," she said.

"The exhibition is giving people something to do in holidays and bringing people to Rochester.

"Jack Tricky was a cyclist in 1956 games and is one of the athletes we're featuring. He lives in Huntly and his family bought him up to see the exhibition. He was very emotional which was really special for us to know he's done something for him and his family.

"It's giving Rochester a reason to celebrate the Olympics and remember when the 2000 torch came through the town and the school kids lined the street."

Several other unique items complete the exhibition including a line marker from the 1956 Melbourne Games and a Choir Outfit from the 2000 Sydney Games.

A cauldron from the 2000 Sydney torch relay which was used to light the torch each day during the procession run is the centrepiece of the display.

Ms Watkins said the memory of John Forbes kept a steady stream of visitors through the museum's doors and his permanent display remains in the building alongside the Olympic show.

"People come to visit for various reasons but the most popular reason is that they knew John Forbes and hearing people talk how he touched their lives is amazing," she said.

"We opened in October 2019 and in February and March we were getting a lot of group bookings and then we had to close due to Covid. Up until then we were really gaining our feet.

"I think we we re-opened at the end of 2020 and since then our numbers have been amazing.

"People travelling around regional Victoria again and visitors marking John Forbes passing have led to an increase in our visitation numbers.

"The manager of the MCG museum said there's nothing like this in regional Australia."

The Rochester Sports Museum is open every day of the school holidays and outside of that from Thursday to Sunday and entry is $5 per person or $10 a family.

The Olympic exhibition will run until September 30.

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