The Olympics in 1908 and 1948

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The Olympics in 1908 and 1948
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Contents

• The Olympics in 1908
• Pictures
• 3. Between the Olympics
• 4. The Olympics in 1948
• 5. Pictures
• 6. Did you know?

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London, 27.04-29.10.1908

• London was chosen by the recommendations of The
  Committe of Organisation of London Worlds Fair.
• The games were held in White City, where huge
  stadium was quickly built. It could hold up to 70
  000 people. Also a cycling track and the pool
  were built.
• There were 2059 athlets participating (incl. 36
  women) from 22 countries.

Stadium in White City
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Henry Taylor

• In the programme there were added a lot of new
  sports, for example polo, rackets, field hockey,
  motorboat racing etc. For the first time figure
  skating was included.
• For the first time the nonofficial rank order was
  presented Great Britain, The USA, Sweden,
  France, Germany, Canada.
• The best athlets were Melvin Sheppard(The USA)
  and Henry Taylor(Great Britain). They won 3 gold
  medals.

Melvin Sheppard
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Olympic Games posters
Opening ceremony
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Britain Between the Olympics

• Britain took part in I and II World War
• The First World War
• Almost every London family was affected by the
  death or wounding of a relative or friend.  Of
  more than one million London men who enlisted
  131,000 died on active service.
• In the year following the end of the war, London
  was also hit hard by the Spanish flu.
• 1940-1941 The Battle of Britain
• The Second World war 
• During the attacks over 20,000 Londoners lost
  their lives and over a million buildings were
  destroyed or seriously damaged.
• Londons demographics changed dramatically.

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London, 29.07- 14.08.1948

• London became the second city, where The Summer
  Olympics were held twice.
• There were 4106 athlets participating (incl. 385
  women) from 59 countries.
• The Olympics were held on Wembley Stadium

Wembley Stadium
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• Many countries did not take part in the Olympic
  Games because of their bad economical condition.
  Due to that the XIV Olympics were not as
  successful as in 1908.
• The weaknesses of these Olympics were the missing
  Olympic village and the bad positioning of the
  arenas.Thats why it was very hard to follow the
  game and have a good review.
• The best countries were The USA and Sweden, after
  them were Hungary, Italy, Great Britain, Finland
  and Switzerland.
• The best athlete was Dutchwoman Francine
  Blankers-Koen, who won 4 gold medals.

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Francine Blankers- Koen
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Did you know

• that at first the IV Olympic Games had to take
  place in Rome, but unfortunatelly Mount Vesuvis
  had erupted.
• that for the first time winners were awarded
  with gold, silver and bronze medals on the XIV
  Olympic Games.
• that Japan and Germany did not recive the
  invitation, because they were agressors of the
  Second World War.

Medals in 19081948