1908 Summer Olympics

Multi-sport event held in London, England July 2024 January 2025 1908 Summer Olympics Olympic games 1908 London.jpg 165 Programme for the 1908 Summer Olympics London, United Kingdom 22 2,008 (1,971 men, 37 women) 110 in 22 sports (25 disciplines) 27 April 1908 31 October 1908 King Edward VIIFactsheet - Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf live International Olympic Committee 13 September 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20160814215458/https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf 14 August 2016 22 December 2018 White City Stadium St. Louis 1904 Stockholm 1912 The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, United Kingdom, from 27 April to 31 October 1908.The Olympic Summer Games Factsheet http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/The_Olympic_Summer_Games.pdf International Olympic Committee 5 August 2012 The 1908 Games were relocated to London after Italy withdrew from hosting on financial grounds. Rome had been awarded the games at the 6th IOC Session in 1904, but Italy formally relinquished its obligation during the 8th IOC Session at the Intercalated Games in Athens in April 1906, with Italy's IOC member Count Eugenio Brunetta d'Usseaux citing the financial consequences of the eruption of Mount Vesuvius (4–22 April 1906) as the reason.Llewellyn, Matthew P. (2011). 'A British Olympics.' The International Journal of the History of Sport 28(5): 669–687. Mallon and BuchananMallon, Bill, and Ian Buchanan. The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company, 2000, pp. 2–3. cite personal communications from Italian Olympic historian Giuseppe Odello, suggesting that the decision to withdraw had effectively been made before the eruption, claiming that Prime Minister Giovanni Giolitti had already withheld the government funds necessary to finance the games, which were competing with major public works projects including the Simplon Tunnel, an aqueduct in the Puglia region, relief efforts following the Calabrian earthquake of 1905, and expenditure planned for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Rome as capital.Colasante, Gianfranco. La nascita del Movimento Olimpico in Italia. 1894–1914. Rome: CONI, 1996. Archival research has established that the British Olympic Association was already privately exploring the possibility of London hosting the games as early as 5 January 1906, three months before the eruption began.Llewellyn, Matthew P. (2011). 'A British Olympics.' The International Journal of the History of Sport 28(5): 669–687. London was formally confirmed as host on 19 November 1906. Rome eventually hosted the games in 1960.https://giochiolimpiciparalimpici.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/londra-1908-le-prime-olimpiadi-inglesi-e-dorando-pietri/ Londra 1908: le prime Olimpiadi inglesi e Dorando Pietri 22 November 2016 it Siamo nel 1901 quando il CIO si riunisce per decidere chi sarà la città ad ospitare la quarta edizione Olimpica. A contendersi questo onore ci furono Roma e Berlino, e ne uscì vincitrice la prima. Purtroppo, però, la nostra città italiana dovette ritirarsi qualche anno prima dei Giochi a causa dell’eruzione del Vesuvio giochiolimpiciparalimpici.wordpress.com 22 March 2018 These were the fourth chronological modern Summer Olympics in keeping with the now-accepted four-year cycle as opposed to the alternate four-year cycle of the proposed Intercalated Games. The IOC president for these games was Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Lasting a total of 187 days (six months and four days), these were the longest games in modern Olympics history.15 November 2010 London 1908: A short-notice replacement for Rome https://www.olympics.com/ioc/news/london-1908-a-short-notice-replacement-for-rome 24 May 2025 www.olympics.com Background There were four bids for the 1908 Summer Olympics. Rome was selected ahead of London, Berlin and Milan. The selection was made at the 6th IOC Session in London in 1904.http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml Past Olympic Host City Election Results GamesBids 17 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022022/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html 24 January 2011 dead Italian authorities were preparing to stage the games when Mount Vesuvius erupted on 7 April 1906, devastating the city of Naples. Funds were diverted to the reconstruction of Naples, so a new host country was required. During the Intercalated Games of Athens, still in April 1906, Coubertin approached Lord Desborough about alternatively hosting in London. Accepting the offer and with a mere 18 months in which to prepare, London was selected for the first time to hold the games, which were held at White City alongside the Franco-British Exhibition, at the time the more noteworthy event.Gillett and Tennent, 2025 The White City Stadium, built in short time for the games, held 68,000 people, with full crowds turning up to watch the events. The stadium track was three laps to the mile (536.448 metres per lap), as the current standard of 400 metres did not exist until 1962, with a pool (for swimming and diving events) and platforms (for wrestling and gymnastics) in the centre field.Mallon Bill Buchanan Ian https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll16/id/16 The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary LA84 Foundation 2000 5 McFarland 978-0-7864-0598-5 The distance from the start of the marathon to the finish at the stadium was established at these games: the original distance of 25 miles was changed to 26 miles so the marathon could start at Windsor Castle and then changed again at the request of Princess Mary so the start would be beneath the windows of the Royal Nursery.https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.720/first-appearance-for-flags-at-olympic-opening-ceremony-1.770576 First appearance for flags at Olympic opening ceremony 30 June 2008 CBC Sports https://web.archive.org/web/20080603133905/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/history/story/2008/04/29/f-olympics-1908.html 3 June 2008 live To ensure that the race would finish in front of the King, the finish line was moved by British officials who "felt compelled to restore the importance of the monarchy." As a result of these changes, the marathon covered a distance of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195 km), which became the standard length starting with the 1924 Summer Olympics.Rhonda Jolly (3 June 2008). http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RP/2007-08/08rp32.pdf The modern Olympics: an overview 30 June 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20090318000330/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RP/2007-08/08rp32.pdf 18 March 2009 . Department of Parliamentary Services. p. 9. The games There were controversies at the games. On the opening day, following the practice introduced at the Intercalated Games of 1906, teams paraded behind national flags. However, the arrangement caused complications: Since Finland was part of the Russian Empire, members of the Finnish team were expected to march under the Russian rather than Finnish flag, so many chose to march without a flag at all. The Swedish flag had not been displayed above the stadium, so the members of the Swedish team decided not to take part in the ceremony. The United States' flag bearer, Ralph Rose, refused to dip the flag to King-Emperor Edward VII in the royal box. His fellow athlete Martin Sheridan allegedly declared that "this flag dips to no earthly King." The quote is held as an example of Irish and American defiance of the British monarchy, though its historicity is disputed.Bill Mallon Ian Buchanan http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv7n3/JOHv7n3i.pdf To No Earthly King ... Journal of Olympic History 1999 21 30 June 2008 9 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080909224103/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv7n3/JOHv7n3i.pdf dead http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/06/24/olympics_history_feature.shtml London Olympics 1908 & 1948 30 October 2006 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20061010154104/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/06/24/olympics_history_feature.shtml 10 October 2006 . BBC (24 June 2005). Events The 1908 Olympics also prompted establishment of standard rules for sports, and selection of judges from different countries rather than just the host. One reason was the 400 metre race, in which a US runner, John Carpenter, was accused by the British officials of interfering with a British runner. Part of the problem was the different definition of interference under British and international rules (the events were held under British rules by the decision of the Organising Committee). The officials decided to disqualify Carpenter and ordered a second final race without him. British Halswelle was to face the other two finalists. These athletes, William Robbins and John Taylor, were both Americans and decided not to participate in the repeat of the final to protest against the judges' decision. Halswelle was thus the only medallist in the 400 metres. thumb|Dorando Pietri finishes the marathon. thumb|Original caption: "One of the most curious contests at the Olympic Games is the duelling with wax bullets. The combatants are as elaborately protected as a German student duellist, and even the revolver has a large hand-guard. The helmet has a plate-glass window." The most famous incident of the games came at the end of the marathon. Dorando Pietri, Italy, began his race at a rather slow pace, but in the second half of the course began a powerful surge moving him into second position by the 32 km 0 on mark, 4 minutes behind South African Charles Hefferon. When he knew that Hefferon was in crisis, Pietri further increased his pace, overtaking him at the 39 km 0 on mark. The effort took its toll and with only two kilometres to go, Pietri began to feel the effects of extreme fatigue and dehydration. When he entered the stadium, he took the wrong path and when umpires redirected him, he fell down for the first time. He got up with their help, in front of 75,000 spectators. He fell four more times, and each time the umpires helped him up. In the end, though totally exhausted, he managed to finish the race in first place. Of his total time of 2h 54min 46s, ten minutes were needed for that last 340 metres. Second was American Johnny Hayes. The American team immediately lodged a complaint against the help Pietri received from the umpires. The complaint was accepted and Pietri was disqualified and removed from the final standings of the race. Since he had not been responsible for his disqualification, Queen Alexandra awarded him a gilded silver cup the next day. These games were the first to include winter events, as had originally been proposed for the games. There were four figure skating events, although held on 28 and 29 October, months after most of the other events. Oscar Swahn from Sweden, who won the gold medal for running deer shooting, became the oldest Olympic champion of all time, and set another age record by being 72 years and 279 days old during his triumph at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp, Belgium. One of the more unusual shooting events in 1908 was Olympic dueling. The discipline, which was an associate event (that is, not official), was performed by facing opponents wearing protective clothing and masks and firing wax bullets.The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality https://books.google.com/books?id=roI4AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA40 No. 808 Vol LXIII, Sixpence 22 July 1908 Ingram brothers 41 American John Taylor was a member of the winning medley relay team, making him the first African-American athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/people/1800s/taylorjb.html John Baxter Taylor (1882–1908), V.M.D. 1908 – First African-American to Win an Olympic Gold Medal 30 June 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080204185912/http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/people/1800s/taylorjb.html 4 February 2008 , University of Pennsylvania Archives. Times for the winning team were United States (3:29.4): William Hamilton, 200 metres (22.0); Nathaniel Cartmell, 200 metres (22.2); John Taylor, 400 metres (49.8); and Melvin Sheppard, 800 metres (1:55.4).Official Olympic Reports https://web.archive.org/web/20060622162855/http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/reports_frmst.htm 22 June 2006 . LA84 Foundation. Retrieved on 9 July 2012. Less than five months after returning from the Olympic Games in London, Taylor died of typhoid fever on 2 December 1908 at the age of 26. 0362-4331 NEGRO RUNNER DEAD.; John B. Taylor, Quarter Miler, Victim of Typhoid Pneumonia. The New York Times 2 June 2013 3 December 1908 http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30915FA3C5517738DDDAA0894DA415B888CF1D3 The budget of the organising committee showed a cost of £15,000; over one-third was labelled "entertainment expense". Donations were the major source of revenue; only 28% of income derived from ticket sales. Total receipts of £21,378 resulted in organisers claiming a profit. Construction of the White City Stadium, which cost the government about £60,000, was not counted.Frank Zarnowski Zarnowski C. Frank Summer 1992 A Look at Olympic Costs Citius, Altius, Fortius 1 1 16–32 http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv1n1/JOHv1n1f.pdf 24 March 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20080528012143/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv1n1/JOHv1n1f.pdf 28 May 2008 PDF dead Sports Twenty-two sports, representing 110 events in 25 sporting disciplines, were competed.2026-05-20 competed https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/competed 2026-05-26 dictionary.cambridge.org en A golf tournament had also been planned but it was cancelled a few days before it was scheduled to start.Golf Olympic competitions Abandoned https://www.newspapers.com/image/811203349/ 27 January 2023 The People 31 May 1908 17 Newspapers.com subscription Swimming, diving, and water polo are considered three disciplines of the same sport, aquatics. At the time, tug-of-war was part of athletics and the two different football codes (association and rugby (union)) were listed together. The International Olympic Committee now considers tug-of-war a separate sport as well as referring to association football as simply "football" and to rugby union as "rugby."Olympic Sports of the Past. Olympic.org. Retrieved on 9 July 2012. In one of seven cycling events (cycling sprint) no medals were awarded. The sailing program was open for a total of five sailing classes, but actually only four sailing events were competed.Olympic judge who cost Madison Chock and Evan Bates gold has a history of questionable scores https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/olympic-judge-cost-madison-chock-160809194.html https://web.archive.org/web/20260216021631/https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/olympic-judge-cost-madison-chock-160809194.html 16 February 2026 2026-05-26 Yahoo Sports en-US live The number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses. 30em Aquatics Diving 2 d(14 July 1908 to 24 July 1908) Swimming 6 d(13–25 July 1908) Water polo 1 d(July 15 (quarterfinal), July 20 (semifinal) July 22 (final)) Archery 3 d(17–20 July 1908) Athletics 26 d(13–25 July 1908) Boxing 5 d(27 October 1908) Cycling 7 d(13 –18 July 1908) Fencing 4 d(July 17–24) Figure skating 4 d(October 28-29) Football 1 d(19–24 October 1908) Gymnastics 2 d(July 14–16, 1908) Field hockey 1 d(29–31 October 1908) Jeu de paume 1 d(May 18–23) Lacrosse 1 d(October 24) Polo 1 d(18 June & 21 June 1908) Rackets 2 d(April 27–May 1) Rowing 4 d(28–31 July 1908) Rugby union 1 d(26 October) Sailing 4 d(27-29 July 1908 (Ryde), 11-12 August 1908 (Hunters Quay)) Shooting 15 d(8 – 11 July 1908) Tennis 6 d(6–11 May 1908 (indoor), 6-11 July 1908 (outdoor)) Tug of war 1 d(July 17–18, 1908) Water motorsports 3 d(August 28–29) Wrestling d(20–25 July 1908) Wrestling Freestyle (5) Wrestling Greco-Roman (4) Cycle polo, glima and pistol dueling were demonstration sports. Venues Greater London Map of London with Olympic venues marked Map of London with Olympic venues marked right 400 Greater London 51.415455 -0.216701 white All England Club bottom 80 Greater London 51.512222 -0.229444 white Fencing right 80 Greater London 51.466944 -0.200833 white Hurlingham Club right 80 Greater London 51.501 -0.10226 white Northampton Institute right 80 Greater London 51.52776 -0.166 white Prince's Skating Club top 80 Greater London 51.4875 -0.211667 white Queen's Club left 80 Greater London 51.5136 -0.2274 white White City Stadium left 80 Greater London 51.5725 -0.285556 white Uxendon ShootingSchool Club left 80 England Map of Great Britain with Olympic venues marked Map of Great Britain with Olympic venues marked right 400 England 51.3153 -0.651 white Bisley Ranges bottom 80 England 55.970717 -4.911582 white Hunters Quay bottom 80 England 50.856111 -1.3475 white Southampton Water left 80 England 50.734196 -1.214811 white Royal VictoriaYacht Club right 80 England 51.50737 -0.12766 white London right 80 England 51.5487 -0.8941 white Henley left 80 Thirteen sports venues were used for the 1908 Summer Olympics. The first winter sports took place at Prince's Skating Club in Knightsbridge. White City Stadium served as a precursor to modern stadiums.August 2016 The figure skating events were not held at the next Olympics in Stockholm, but returned for the 1920 Games in Antwerp, heralding the first Winter Olympics that took place in Chamonix in 1924. White City was the main venue for the 1934 British Empire Games (known as the Commonwealth Games since 1978) and, before its demolition in 1985, also served as a venue for the 1966 FIFA World Cup. The All England Lawn Tennis Club continues to host the Wimbledon championships and is the only venue of the 1908 Games that was used for the 2012 Summer Olympics.http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/wimbledon.php London 2012 > The Games > Venues > Wimbledon London2012.com https://web.archive.org/web/20100916103702/http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/wimbledon.php 16 September 2010 dead 29 September 2010 Bisley and Henley served as venues in the 1948 Games when the Olympics returned to London forty years later.http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf The Official Report of the 1948 London Olympics The Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad la84foundation.org https://web.archive.org/web/20110716035822/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf 16 July 2011 dead 19 October 2010 43, 47–9 VenueSportsCapacity Ref. All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club Tennis Not listedhttp://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics The British Olympic Association la84foundation.org https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222443/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf 27 September 2007 dead 5 October 2010 209 Bisley Ranges, Surrey Shooting (pistol/rifle) Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 254. Franco-British Exhibition Fencing Grounds, Shepherd's Bush Fencing Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 127. Henley Royal Regatta, Oxfordshire RowingNot listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 237. Hunters Quay, Scotland Sailing (12 Metre)Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 340. The Hurlingham Club PoloNot listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 232. Northampton Institute, Islington Boxing Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, pp. 107, 296–313. Prince's Skating Club Figure skatingNot listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 284. Queen's Club Jeu de paume, Rackets Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 314.The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 233.Royal Victoria Yacht Club, Ryde Sailing (6, 7, 8 and 15 Metre)Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 339. Southampton Water Water motorsports Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 351. Uxendon Shooting School Club Shooting (shotgun)Not listedThe Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 39. White City Stadium Archery, Athletics, Cycling (track), Diving, Field hockey, Football, Gymnastics, Lacrosse, Rugby union, Swimming, Tug of war, Water polo (final), Wrestling68,000The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, pp. 32–5, 40. Participating nations thumb|Participants of the 1908 Games thumb|Number of participating athletes per country The 1908 Games featured athletes representing 22 National Olympic Committees. Finland, Turkey and New Zealand (as part of the team from Australasia) made their first appearance at the Olympic Games. The fact that the United Kingdom competed as a single team was upsetting to some Irish competitors, who felt that Ireland should compete on its own, despite being part of the UK at the time. They relied on the precedent set by Grand Duchy of Finland, which while being a part of the Russian Empire, competed in London as a separate country.Cook Theodore Andrea The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report British Olympic Association London http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf 17 June 2009 May 1909 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222443/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf 27 September 2007 Fearing an Irish boycott, the authorities changed the name of the team to Great Britain/Ireland, and in two sports, field hockey and polo, Ireland participated as a separate country, winning silver medals in both, although their medals counted towards the UK's tally.Irish Times, 4 August 2008, article by Kevin Mallon Irish athletes in the United States were not affected by this controversy, and many Irish immigrants to the United States competed for the U.S. Olympic team as members of the Irish American Athletic Club. Members of the Irish American Athletic Club won ten of the U.S. Olympic team's total 23 gold medals, or as many as the nations of France, Germany and Italy combined. Britain had more than a quarter of competitors in their team, with 676, compared to 112 on the American team which placed second in the medal standings. Participating National Olympic Committees22em ARG 1908 Summer 1 ANZ 1908 Summer 30 AUT 1908 Summer 7 BEL 1908 Summer 88 BOH 1908 Summer 19 CAN 1908 Summer 87 DEN 1908 Summer 79 FIN 1908 Summer 67 FRA 1908 Summer 363 GER 1908 Summer 81 GBR 1908 Summer 676 (host) GRE 1908 Summer 20 HUN 1908 Summer 63 ITA 1908 Summer 68 NED 1908 Summer 113 NOR 1908 Summer 69 RU1 1908 Summer 6 RSA 1908 Summer 14 SWE 1908 Summer 168 SUI 1908 Summer 1 TUR 1908 Summer 1 USA 1908 Summer 112 ISL 1908 Summer 1 – Some historians claim that the country first participated in these games while still being a part of Denmark. Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees Country Athletes GBR 1908 Summer 676 FRA 1908 Summer 363 SWE 1908 Summer 168 NED 1908 Summer 113 USA 1908 Summer 112 BEL 1908 Summer 88 CAN 1908 Summer 87 DEN 1908 Summer 81 GER 1908 Summer 81 NOR 1908 Summer 69 ITA 1908 Summer 68 FIN 1908 Summer 67 HUN 1908 Summer 63 ANZ 1908 Summer 32 GRE 1908 Summer 20 BOH 1908 Summer 19 RSA 1908 Summer 14 AUT 1908 Summer 7 RU1 1908 Summer 6 ARG 1908 Summer 1 SUI 1908 Summer 1 TUR 1908 Summer 1 Total 2,008 Medal count 1908 Summer Olympics medal table thumb|The medal of the 1908 British Olympic Council These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1908 Games. GBR flagIOC 1908 Summer 56 51 39 yes 23 12 12 8 6 11 5 5 9 3 5 5 3 4 2 3 3 10 2 3 3 2 2 0 1 5 2 See also United Kingdom London Sports 1908 Summer Olympics History of Shepherd's Bush References External links 1908 Summer Olympics Parliament & the 1908 Olympics - UK Parliament Living Heritage Cook Theodore Andrea The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report British Olympic Association London http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf 8 May 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080528012144/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf 28 May 2008 dead May 1909 Mallon Bill Buchanan, Ian The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary McFarland 2000 978-0-7864-0598-5 Background http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/Mallon/1908.pdf 8 May 2008 registration https://archive.org/details/resultsofearlymo00mall_0 Jenkins Rebecca The First London Olympics: 1908 Piatkus Books 2008 978-0-7499-5168-9 Video footage of the 1908 Summer Olympics White City Stadium/BBC radio The London Olympics by Russell James soly St. Louis IV OlympiadLondon 1908 Stockholm Olympics United Kingdom London Sports Olympic Games Summer Olympics Olympic Games Category:20th century in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Category:Summer Olympics in London Category:Summer Olympics by year Category:Olympic Games in the United Kingdom