LONDON 1908: Games of the IV Olympiad

LONDON 1908: Games of the IV Olympiad

The 1908 Olympics were originally awarded to Rome, but were reassigned to London. At the Opening Ceremony, the athletes marched into the stadium by nation, as most countries sent selected national teams. Archers William and Charlotte Dod became the first brother and sister medalists. Oscar Swahn, aged 60, was the oldest ever competitor to earn an Olympic gold medal, winning the running deer shooting, single shot. 1908 marked the first appearance of diving and field hockey. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the final in middleweight Greco-Roman wrestling between Frithiof Martensson and Mauritz Andersson was postponed one day to allow Martensson to recover from a minor injury. Martensson won. Ray Ewry won the standing high jump and the standing long jump for the third time and became the only person in Olympic history to win a career total of eight gold medals in individual events. The event that caught the public imagination around the world was the dramatic ending of the marathon. After 42 kilometres (26 miles) of running, the first man to enter the stadium was Dorando Pietri of Italy, but he collapsed on the track five times and was disqualified when officials carried him across the finish line.

22 NOCs (Nations)

2,008 athletes (37 women, 1,971 men)

110 events

KEY FACTS
Opening date:27 April 1908

Closing date:31 October 1908

Country of the host city:Great Britain (GBR)

Candidate cities:
Berlin (GER), Milan (ITA), Rome (ITA). Rome was chosen initially, but the Games were subsequently reattributed to London.

Sports: 22

Sports on the program

Aquatics ,Archery ,Athletics ,Boxing ,Cycling ,Fencing ,Football ,Gymnastics ,Hockey
Jeu de paume ,Lacrosse ,Polo ,Rackets ,Rowing ,Rugby ,Sailing ,Shooting ,Tennis ,
Tug of War ,Water Motorsports ,Wrestling

CEREMONIES
London 13 July 1908. The British delegation.

Official opening of the Games by: His Majesty The King Edward VII

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: The Olympic flame was first lit during the opening ceremony of the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam.

Olympic Oath by: The first athletes' oath was sworn at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

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

HIGHLIGHTS

Oscar Swahn (SWE-shooting) was already 60 years old when he won his first Olympic gold medal. He won the running deer single-shot event and took his second gold the next day in the team event. Swahn also earned a bronze medal in the running deer double-shot contest.

FAMOUS FOR NOT WINNING

When Dorando Pietri (ITA-athletics) entered the stadium at the end of the marathon, it was immediately apparent that something was wrong. Dazed, he headed in the wrong direction and then collapsed. The officials helped him to reach the finish line in first position. He was disqualified for receiving outside aid, but his plucky effort made him famous.

A STANDING JUMPER

Ray Ewry (USA-athletics) was the greatest athlete of the now defunct Olympic events, the standing jumps. He won his third consecutive gold medal in the standing high jump and standing long jump, which brought to eight his Olympic medal tally.

GOLD AT SIXTY

Oscar Swahn (SWE-shooting) was already 60 years old when he won his first Olympic gold medal. He won the running deer single-shot event and took his second gold the next day in the team event. Swahn also earned a bronze medal in the running deer double-shot contest.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 1906, there was an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, near Naples. The Italian government needed money to rebuild the zone situated at the foot of the volcano and asked that the Games of the IV Olympiad, which should have taken place in Rome, be given to another city. Despite the lack of time, London put in a bid. This edition of the Olympic Games was one of the best organised that had taken place at that time.

THE CITY OF ROME TURNS DOWN THE GAMES

In 1906, there was an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, near Naples. The Italian government needed money to rebuild the zone situated at the foot of the volcano and asked that the Games of the IV Olympiad, which should have taken place in Rome, be given to another city. Despite the lack of time, London put in a bid. This edition of the Olympic Games was one of the best organised that had taken place at that time.

THE CREATION OF SPORTS INSTALLATIONS

For the first time, a stadium was specially fitted out for the Games.

London 1908:The medal

ObverseReverse

Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections

On the obverse, two female figures placing a laurel crown on the head of a young victorious athlete, with, in the bottom half, the inscription "OLYMPIC GAMES LONDON 1908".

On the reverse, the figure of St George, patron saint of England. Legend says that he was a fighting saint who slew a dragon to free a princess.

London 1908:The poster



Credit: IOC / Olympic Museum Collections