'Super Trouper': ABBA exhibition opens in London

A visitor enters the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

LONDON (Reuters) - From a superfan's shrine to a replica of the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest stage where they triumphed with "Waterloo", a new exhibition opening in London on Friday looks back at the huge success of Swedish pop sensation ABBA.

Personal items such as member Bjorn Ulvaeus' school report as well as pictures, gold discs and clothing are on display at "ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition", which runs at London's O2 venue until August.

One ABBA fan has also shared hundreds of items of memorabilia he collected for more than 40 years, including cushions, scarves, badges and even Christmas decorations.

A woman poses in front of a video wall during ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

"I have a vague memory of them winning the Eurovision Song Contest but in '75 when 'I do, I do. I do' came out, there's something unique about the saxophone intro that caught my ear and it wasn't too long until I related the two together," ABBA fan Andrew Boardman, 56, told Reuters at an exhibition preview.

"From then on it was just every bit of pocket money (went toward buying ABBA memorabilia). Everything has gone on and on. As I started to work, it's gotten bigger and bigger."

ABBA, made up of Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstado, shot to global fame after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. They enjoyed huge commercial success with a string of 1970s and 1980s hits including "Dancing Queen", "Mamma Mia" and "Thank You for the Music".

A staff member makes final arrangements during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

(Reporting by Tara Oakes; Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian and Andrew Cawthorne)

Costumes of the Waterloo single are displayed during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Photographers shoot a showcase with caricature puppets by the Jim Henson Company for the music video "The Last Video" during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

A visitor listens to a telephone during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

A staff member walks in front of an ABBA neon sign during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

A staff member makes a selfie in front of an ABBA neon sign during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

A staff member makes a selfie in front of an ABBA neon sign during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Curator Jude Kelly poses with costumes from the Waterloo single during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner

Women sit inside a life-sized replica of the helicopter that graced the cover of "Arrival" during the ABBA: Super Troupers The Exhibition at the O2 in London, Britain, December 5, 2019. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner