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The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in London from 27 April to 31 October.

Some statistics:

22 nations took part.
2,008 athletes participated.
(1,971 men, 37 women,)
Events 110 in 22 sports


Naples was due to host the olympics but there was a devasting volcanic eruption from Mount Vesivius.

The White City Stadium, built in short time for the games, held 68,000 and was considered a technological marvel. 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.

There was a lot of controversy at these games including:

The 400 metre run in which the US winner was accused of interfering with the British runner. Part of the problem was the different definition of interference under British and US rules. The race was re-run, but the Americans refused to participate. The British runner, Wyndham Halswelle, won by running around the track on his own, because three of the four original runners had been American, the only walkover in Olympic history.

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. As a consequence, after crossing the line he was disqualified.


Do you have memories of White City Stadium?
Did your ancestors take part visit the games?

Take gentle care
Very best wishes
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Gentle nudge please

Thank you
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