Maria-Birgitta Hallaste 10A Viimsi Secondary School The Olympics in 1908 and 1948 Maria-Birgitta Hallaste 10A Viimsi Secondary School

The Olympic Games An international multi-sport event established for both summer and winter games. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games: the Ancient Olympic Games and the Modern Olympic Games.

The Olympics in 1908 Originally scheduled to be held in Rome, were instead held in 1908 in London, England. Took place between 27th April 1908 and 31st October 1908. The fifth modern Olympic Games. 22 nations participating in 110 events. 2,008 participating athletes. 22 sports, representing 24 sporting disciplines.

Points of interest 1908 The only Olympics in which Great Britain won most medals, with fifty-six gold medals and 146 medals in total. The White City Stadium –the Olympics took place there, built in a very short time, especially for the games, held 68,000 people.

Athletes 1908 Archers William and Charlotte Dod (UK) - the first brother and sister medalists. Oscar Swahn (Sweden), aged 60 - the oldest ever competitor to earn an Olympic gold medal, winning the running deer shooting by winning with a single shot. Ray Ewry (USA) - won the standing high jump and the standing long jump for the third time, became the only person in Olympic history to win a career total of eight gold medals in individual events. Dorando Pietri (Italy) - the first man who entered the stadium after running 42 kilometres (26 miles) but was disqualified because the officials carried him across the finish line after collapsing on the track five times.

Complications 1908 Finland was part of the Russian Empire - the Finnish team were expected to march under the Russian rather than Finnish flag, many chose to march without a flag at all. The Swedish flag had not been displayed above the stadium - members of the Swedish team decided not to take part in the ceremony. The flag of the United States had also not been displayed above the stadium before the opening, which is possibly the reason why the United States' flag bearer refused to dip the flag in the royal box.

The Olympics in 1948 Was postponed many times because of World War II. Took place between 29th July 1948 and 14th August 1948. 59 countries participating in 136 events. 4,468 competitors. 17 sports.

Points of interest 1948 The USA came at the top of the medal standings by winning 84 medals. Wembley Stadium – the place where the main athletics events were held. No Olympic village was built - the foreign athletes were accommodated in old wartime barracks and schools. Germany and Japan, aggressors of World War II were excluded from the Games and the Soviet Union decided to abstain.

Athletes 1948 Fanny Blankers-Koen (Netherlands) - the only woman to win four gold medals in athletics and break six Olympic records. Bob Mathias (USA) – a 17-year-old who won Gold in the Decathlon only four months after taking up the sport. British athlete, John Mark lit the flame to mark the official opening of the 1948 Olympic Games.

Used literature http://www.indopedia.org/1908_Summer_Olympics.html http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1908 http://www.bridges.eu/1908_summer_olympics_en.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1908_Summer_Olympics http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1948_Summer_Olympics http://olympics.ballparks.com/1948London/index.htm http://www.20thcenturylondon.org.uk/server.php?show=conInformationRecord.336 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games