London 1908

Games of the IV Olympiad

The 1908 Summer Olympics were originally handed to Rome. However on 7 April 1906 Mount Vesuvius erupted devastating the Italian city of Naples. To deal with the crisis authorities diverted urgent funds to the reconstruction of Naples. 

The relief effort plunged Italy into an economic crisis and saw the country cancel its plans to stage the 1908 Olympics. The Games were subsequently awarded to London and opened on 27 April 1908.

Located at White City Stadium, the arena had a 68,000 seat capacity with a swimming and diving pool and platforms for wrestling and gymnastics in the infield. White City Stadium, which went on to become a greyhound racing and speedway track, hosted various sports until its demolition in 1985.

Highlights of the 1908 London Olympic Games:

• The distance of the marathon was established at 42.195km (26 miles 385 yards). The original distance of 25 miles was changed to 26 miles when the initial route was altered and extended 
• Oscar Swahn from Sweden, aged 60, was the oldest ever competitor to earn an Olympic gold medal, winning the running deer shooting, single shot
• The sports of diving and field hockey made their first appearance
• The Games prompted the establishment of standard rules for sports and selection of judges from different countries rather than just the host nation
• Great Britain topped the medal table
• The most famous incident of the Games came at the end of the marathon. The first to enter the stadium, Dorando Pietri of Italy collapsed several times. He was supported over the line by the Chief Clerk of the race as the second runner, American Johnny Hayes, was catching up with him. As a result of the help, Dorando was disqualified. The medal went to Johnny Hayes but the glory went to Pietri and Queen Alexandra awarded him a gold cup the next day
• The 1908 London Games were the first to include winter events, as had originally been proposed for the Games. There were four figure skating events, although these were held months after other events, which is why the 1908 Games opened on 27 April but closed on 31 October of that year

1908 London Olympic Games at a glance:

• Opened 27 April; closed 31 October
• 22 National Olympic Committees. Finland, Turkey and New Zealand (as part of the team from Australasia) made their first appearance
• 2,008 athletes (1,971 men and 37 women)
• 110 events

London 1948

Games of the XIV Olympiad

The 1948 Summer Olympics in London were held after a 12-year interruption caused by the outbreak of the Second World War. These were the first Games since the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.

The Games opened on 29 July at the 85,000-capacity Wembley Stadium and closed on 14 August 1948. A leisure ground since the 1880s, Wembley Stadium is the world-famous home of the English national football team, having re-opened in 2007 following a complete redevelopment.

Highlights of the 1948 London Olympic Games:

• First Games to be shown on home television
• Olympic pictograms were introduced for the first time. There were 20 of them — one for each Olympic sport and three separate pictograms for the arts competition, the opening ceremony and the closing ceremony. They were called Olympic symbols and intended for use on tickets
• A women's canoeing event was held for the first time
• 17-year-old American Bob Mathias won the decathlon only four months after taking up the sport. He is the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men's athletics event
• Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands was the world record holder in six events, but, according to the rules of the day, was only allowed to enter four. She won all four: the 100m dash, the 80m hurdles, the 200m and the 4x100m relay

1948 London Olympic Games at a glance:

• Opened 27 July; closed 14 August
• 59 National Olympic Committees
• 4,104 athletes (3,714 men and 390 women)
• 136 events