London 1948 > 2012 Olympic Games

The official poster for London Olympic Games in 1948 by Walter Herz. Image via BBC

With the 2012 Olympic Games now just days away the excitement is building! Yes some may grumble about the increased traffic, the Olympic lanes, the bustling crowds and costs of hosting etc. etc... However we should embrace the Olympics gracing our great capital once again after 64 years (the last time the Olympics was in town was back in 1948).

Known as the 'Austerity Games' post world war II Britain was still on strict food & clothing rationing and housing was in short supply - athletes were even asked to bring along their own towels to the games as part of the cost saving measures.

I decided to delve into the photographic archives to look back at the 1948 London Olympic Games - we are sure the comparisons are small, however it is fascinating to see how times have changed over the past 60 years and how London has developed again into the 2012 host city.

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Austerity Olympics: the 1948 London games cost just £600,000 to stage Image via The Telegraph

The 1948 Olympics were held in London's Wembley stadium and were the first games since the 1936 Berlin Olympics. The XIIth Games, of 1940, were originally awarded to Tokyo and then Helsinki but were cancelled due to the outbreak of World War II. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) then selected London for the 1944 which were consequently cancelled again, however after the 6 years of war the U.K was deemed ready to host the 1948 Olympic Games.

The final runner of the torch relay enters Wembley stadium. Image Via BBC

The sign reads:

"THE IMPORTANT THING IN THE OLYMPIC GAMES IS NOT WINNING BUT THE TAKING PART. THE ESSENTIAL THING IN LIFE IS NOT CONQUERING BUT FIGHTING WELL"

London Olympic Games 1948 Torch relay. Image via: inspire by grafea.

The 1948 London Olympic Games Opening Ceremony led by flagbearer John Emrys Lloyd. Image Via BBC.

The opening day of the Olympic Games. Image via The Guardian.

Judges at Wembley Stadium during the 1948 Olympic Games. Images via The Metro.

100m photo finish. It was also the first time a photo-finish was used showing that Harrison 'Bones' Dillard of the United States (bottom) crossed the line a tenth of a second before fellow American Henry 'Barney' Ewell. Image via Time Out.

Jamaica's first two Olympic medallists Arthur Wint taking the tape ahead of Herb McKenley in 400m final. Image via Stephens Liberal.

"The Flying Housewife" in flight on the way to 80m hurdles gold. Image via Stephens Liberal.

Fanny Blankers-Koen leaving the (converted greyhound racing) track after winnng the gold in the 200m at Wembley Stadium, in the London Olympics, 1948. Image via The Guardian.

The Great Britain men's gymnastics team at Empress Hall, Earl's Court, during the Olympic Games in London. Image via Daily Mail

High jump silver medalist Dorothy Tyler (nee Odam) with her sons David (left) and Barry. Image via Daily Mail

BT Heritage
Olden day Twitter: Special Post Boxes around Wembley allowed visitors to Games to send postcards to friends and family to boast of their big day out.

This is the 1948 Newsroom/post office - Some 2,000 "newspapermen" were in London for the Games and in 2012 their is an estimated 27,000 media personnel expected at the Olympics.

Medal ceremony for the 1948 Olympic football tournament Image Via BBC

The Empire pool during the 1948 Olympics. Image via The Guardian.

American swimmers Eugene Rogers and Bill Dudley at the Empire Pool in Wembley. Image via The Guardian.

American divers. Left to right: Vickie Draves, Juno Stover-Irwin, Zoe Olsen-Jensen and Patricia Elsener. Draves later won two gold medals at the Games, with Olsen-Jensen taking a silver, and Elsener a bronze. Image via The Guardian.

Crowds watch the 1948 London Olympics in the summer heat.Image via The Guardian.

Cissie Davies of Great Britain on the balance beam at Empress Hall, Earl's Court, during the gymnastics events. Image via The Guardian.

Great Britain's Reg Harris and Alan Bannister in action to win the silver medal in the men's 2000m tandem. Image via The Guardian.

The closing ceremony of the London Olympics, August 14th, 1948. Image via History Today.

Are you excited for 2012 Olympics? Have you got any tickets to watch any events or are there any your looking forward to seeing?