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LONDON 1948

London 1948

Games of the XIV Olympiad

Despite the fact that the Olympic Games had not been held in either 1940 or 1944 due to World War II, interest in the Games had survived. On short notice, the city of London rose to the challenge and played host to the Games of the XIV Olympiad in 1948. The London Games were the first to be shown on home television, although very few people in Great Britain actually owned sets. A women’s canoeing event was held for the first time - and won by Karen Hoff of Denmark. 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. Two athletes who were Olympic champions in 1936 managed to defend their titles twelve years later. They were Ilona Elek of Hungary in women’s foil fencing and Jan Brzak of Czechoslovakia in the canoeing Canadian pairs 1,000m. Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands entered four athletics events and won all four. Concert pianist Micheline Ostermeyer of France won both the shot put and the discus throw. Karoly Takacs was a member of the Hungarian world champion pistol shooting team in 1938 when a grenade shattered his right hand - his pistol hand. Takacs taught himself to shoot with his left hand and, ten years later, he won an Olympic gold medal in the rapid-fire pistol event.

59 NOCs (Nations)

4,104 athletes (390 women, 3,714 men)

136 events

CEREMONIES

London, Wembley Stadium, 29 July 1948, Opening Ceremony: last torch-bearer John Mark passing the Tribune of Honour, is applauded by members of the Organising Committee.

Official opening of the Games by: His Majesty King George VI

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: John Mark (athletics)

Olympic Oath by: Donald Finlay (athletics)

Official Oath by: The officials' oath at an Olympic Summer Games was first sworn in 1972 in Munich.

Relive the opening ceremony

HIGHLIGHTS

Despite the difficult years due to the rationing of food, clothing and other essential products, the British Organising Committee did a remarkable job. Spartan Games it could be said…but it was a true victory over dark times.