Summer Olympiad (1908)

The 1908 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the IV Olympiad, celebrated in London. These games were originally scheduled to be held in Rome. At the time, they were the fifth modern Olympic games. However, the International Olympic Committee has since downgraded the Athens Games of 1906 and the 1908 Games are seen as the start of the Fourth Olympiad, in keeping with the now-accepted four-year cycle. The IOC president for this games was Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Italian authorities were preparing to hold the games when Mount Vesuvius erupted on April 7, 1906, devastating Naples. Funds were diverted to the reconstruction of Naples, so a new venue was required. London was selected, and the games were held in White City alongside the Franco-British Exhibition, at the time the more noteworthy event.  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. To insure that the race would finish in the front of the King, the finish line was moved by British officials who, in response to shot putter and American flag carrier Ralph Rose's refusal to dip the American flag before the Royal Box during the open ceremonies, “felt compelled to restore the importance of the monarchy.” All of these changes established the modern distance of 42.195km (26 miles 385 yards). 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 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 disqualified when officials carried him across the finish line.

Opening date: 27 April 1908

Closing date: 31 October 1908

Ceremonies

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.

Participations

22 NOCs (Nations)
2,008 athletes (37 women, 1,971 men)
110 events

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

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

Highlights

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

Facts

• 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.

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

• The most memorable event of the 1908 Games was the marathon. The Games Organising Committee fixed the distance of the marathon at 42km and 195m, the last 195 metres being added on to justify the route from Windsor Castle to the royal box in the London stadium. This distance became official from the 1924 Games onwards.

• The athletics events included for the first time a relay, called "the Olympic relay". The athletes ran 200m, 200m, 400m and 800m.

• Also for the first time, the competitors paraded behind their country's flag in sportswear.

• The Empire Pool was the first covered Olympic pool in history. Located not far from Wembley, it could house 8,000 spectators. As its length exceeded the regulatory 50m for an Olympic pool, a wooden platform was constructed to shorten it and to house the judges and officials.