Tallinn German Gymnasium 10c Ann Rikanson The Olympic Games of the 1908 and 1948 Presentation Tallinn 2009

1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which were held in 1908 in London.

The White City Stadium, built in short time for the games, held The stadium track was three laps to the mile, not the current standard of 400 metres, with a pool for swimming and diving and platforms for wrestling and gymnastics in the middle.

Participating nations The 1908 Games featured approximately athletes representing 22 National Olympic Committees. Finland, Turkey, and New Zealand (as part of the team from Australia) made their first appearance at the Olympic Games. The decision to join Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales into one team, that of the United Kingdom, was upsetting to some Irish competitors. Fearing an Irish boycott, the authorities changed the name of the team to Great Britain/Ireland

About medal winners Oscar Swahn from Sweden, who won the gold medal for running deer shooting, became the oldest Olympic champion of all time. American John Taylor was a member of the winning medley relay team, making him the first African-American athlete to win an Olympic gold medal. 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 and ran the wrong way. Not far from the finish, two officials took him by the arms and brought him to the line. He was disqualified.

1948 Summer Olympics The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi- sport event which were held in London, United Kingdom. In June 1939, the IOC gave the 1944 Games to London. War stopped the plans and London again stood for 1948.

The main athletics events were held in Wembley Stadium, where a temporary running track had been laid. No Olympic village was built: the foreign athletes were accommodated in old wartime barracks and schools, the London-based British athletes lived at home. Food was still subject to ration restrictions.

Opening ceremony The Games opened on 29 July, a brilliantly sunny day. Army bands began playing at 2pm for the spectators in Wembley Stadium. The international and national organisers arrived at 2:35pm and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, with Queen Mary and other members of the Royal Family, at 2.45pm. After welcoming the athletes, Lord Burghley said London represented a "warm flame of hope for a better understanding in the world which has burned so low." The National Anthem was sung and the massed athletes turned and marched out of the stadium, led by Greece, tailed by Britain.

Participating nations A total of 59 nations sent athletes. Fourteen of them made their first official appearance. Because of their involvement in World War II, Germany and Japan, both under Allied occupation, were not allowed to send athletes to the games.

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Used sources    OnlineResources/X20L/Timeline/olympics1948.htm 