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On This Day: The second Olympic Games in London opened in 1948
The event was dubbed the Austerity Games because cash-strapped Britain was still rationing at the time
July 29: The first Olympic Games following the Second World War opened in London on this day in 1948 following a 12-year interval.
The event was dubbed the Austerity Games because cash-strapped Britain was still rationing at the time and so no new venues or accommodation were built.
The Olympics, which were staged amid a blazing heatwave, were the first to be held for 12 years following the controversial 1936 Games in Berlin.
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Germany and Japan were not invited because of their roles as aggressors, while the Soviet Union chose not to send athletes.
The Games were the second of three to be held in London, with the other two taking place in 1908 and 2012, making the capital unique in sporting history.
Unlike last year’s epic £27million opening ceremony staged by movie director Danny Boyle, the kick-off in 1948 was more low-key.
At 2pm, Army bands began playing for the 85,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, which was fitted with a running track made from coal cinders donated by Leicester homes.
The Royal Family arrived at 2.45pm before 4,104 athletes athletes from 59 participating nations poured into the venue, which had previously only hosted football matches.
By 4pm, all the teams were assembled and as King George VI declared the Games open. Some 2,500 pigeons were set free.
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Among the 136 events in 17 sports – a fraction of those hosted in modern Olympics – was a cycling through Surrey and London, which featured in British Pathe footage.
The Games were the last to feature an arts competition, which was held at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Unlike today, few athletes were female. Of the 4,104 competitors, only 390 were women.
They included Dutch sprint star Fanny Blankers-Koen, a 30-year-old mother of two nicknamed the Flying Housewife after winning four gold medals.
Britain won only three golds and 23 medals in total. The United States team won with 38 golds and an overall haul of 84 medals.
