1948 OLYMPICS - LONDON

Opening date: 29 July 1948 Closing date: 14 August 1948 After a 12-year break due to World War II, the Games return triumphantly to London. Rising to the challenge The Olympic Games had not been held in either 1940 or 1944 due to World War II, and London was called upon at short notice to host them. Despite shortages of essential products due to rationing, the city rose magnificently to the challenge - a true victory over dark times. Innovation and progress The London Games were the first to be shown on home television, although very few people in Great Britain actually owned sets. Starting blocks for athletes in sprint races were introduced for the first time, and the Empire Pool was the first covered Olympic pool to be used at the Games. Memorable performances Seventeen-year-old American Bob Mathias won the decathlon only four months after taking up the sport. He remains the youngest athlete in Olympic history to win a men’s athletics event. The dominant woman of the Games was sprinter Fanny Blankers-Koen of the Netherlands. She entered four sprint events and won all four. Overcoming adversity Karoly Takacs was a member of the Hungarian world champion pistol shooting team in 1938 when a grenade shattered his right hand - his pistol hand. Takacs taught himself to shoot with his left hand and, 10 years later, he won an Olympic gold medal in the rapid-fire pistol event. NOCs 59 Athletes 4,104 (390 women, 3,714 men) Events 136 Volunteers n/a Media n/a Events Artistic Gymnastics Athletics Basketball Boxing Canoe / Kayak Flatwater Cycling Road Cycling Track Diving Equestrian / Dressage Equestrian / Eventing Equestrian / Jumping Fencing Football Hockey Modern Pentathlon Rowing Sailing Shooting Water polo Weightlifting Wrestling Freestyle Wrestling Greco-Roman Participation Many countries, including Burma, Ceylon, Lebanon, Puerto Rico, Syria and Venezuela, were represented for the first time. On the other hand, there were no athletes from Japan, Germany or the USSR. Innovation in athletics Introduction of blocks to facilitate the start for athletes in sprint races (100m to 400m). Recognition Diplomas awarded to the first six athletes. Swimming under cover 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. Ceremonies London, Wembley Stadium, 29 July 1948, Opening Ceremony: last torch-bearer John Mark passing the Tribune of Honour, is applauded by members of the Organising Committee. Official opening of the Games by: His Majesty King George VI Lighting the Olympic Flame by: John Mark (athletics) Olympic Oath by: Donald Finlay (athletics) Official Oath by: The officials' oath at an Olympic Summer Games was first sworn in 1972 in Munich. Olympic medallists Fanny Blankers-Koen Veikko Huhtanen Paavo Johannes Aaltonen James Price Jr. Mclane Ann Elisabeth Curtis Above and beyond Fanny BLANKERS-KOEN In 1999, Fanny Blankers-Koen was voted Female Athlete of the Century, thanks largely to her four gold medals at the 1948 London Games.

INTERESTING OLYMPIC FACTS

The Official Olympic Flag Created by Pierre de Coubertin in 1914, the Olympic flag contains five interconnected rings on a white background. The five rings symbolize the five significant continents and are interconnected to symbolize the friendship to be gained from these international competitions. The rings, from left to right, are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The colors were chosen because at least one of them appeared on the flag of every country in the world. The Olympic flag was first flown during the 1920 Olympic Games. The Olympic Motto In 1921, Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the modern Olympic Games, borrowed a Latin phrase from his friend, Father Henri Didon, for the Olympic motto: Citius, Altius, Fortius ("Swifter, Higher, Stronger"). The Olympic Oath Pierre de Coubertin wrote an oath for the athletes to recite at each Olympic Games. During the opening ceremonies, one athlete recites the oath on behalf of all the athletes. The Olympic oath was first taken during the 1920 Olympic Games by Belgian fencer Victor Boin. The Olympic Oath states, "In the name of all competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules that govern them, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams." The Olympic Creed Pierre de Coubertin got the idea for this phrase from a speech given by Bishop Ethelbert Talbot at a service for Olympic champions during the 1908 Olympic Games. The Olympic Creed reads: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." The Olympic Flame The Olympic flame is a practice continued from the ancient Olympic Games. In Olympia (Greece), a flame was ignited by the sun and then kept burning until the closing of the Olympic Games. The flame first appeared in the modern Olympics at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. The flame itself represents a number of things, including purity and the endeavor for perfection. In 1936, the chairman of the organizing committee for the 1936 Olympic Games, Carl Diem, suggested what is now the modern Olympic Torch relay. The Olympic flame is lit at the ancient site of Olympia by women wearing ancient-style robes and using a curved mirror and the sun. The Olympic Torch is then passed from runner to runner from the ancient site of Olympia to the Olympic stadium in the hosting city. The flame is then kept alight until the Games have concluded. The Olympic Torch relay represents a continuation from the ancient Olympic Games to the modern Olympics. The Olympic Hymn The Olympic Hymn, played when the Olympic Flag is raised, was composed by Spyros Samaras and the words added by Kostis Palamas. The Olympic Hymn was first played at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens but wasn't declared the official hymn by the IOC until 1957. Real Gold Medals The last Olympic gold medals that were made entirely out of gold were awarded in 1912. The Medals The Olympic medals are designed especially for each individual Olympic Games by the host city's organizing committee. Each medal must be at least three millimeters thick and 60 millimeters in diameter. Also, the gold and silver Olympic medals must be made out of 92.5 percent silver, with the gold medal covered in six grams of gold. The First Opening Ceremonies The first opening ceremonies were held during the 1908 Olympic Games in London. Opening Ceremony Procession Order During the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games, the procession of athletes is always led by the Greek team, followed by all the other teams in alphabetical order (in the language of the hosting country), except for the last team which is always the team of the hosting country. A City, Not a Country When choosing locations for the Olympic Games, the IOC specifically gives the honor of holding the Games to a city rather than a country. IOC Diplomats In order to make the IOC an independent organization, the members of the IOC are not considered diplomats from their countries to the IOC, but rather are diplomats from the IOC to their respective countries. First Modern Champio James B. Connolly (United States), winner of the hop, step, and jump (the first final event in the 1896 Olympics), was the first Olympic champion of the modern Olympic Games. The First Marathon In 490 BCE, Pheidippides, a Greek soldier, ran from Marathon to Athens (about 25 miles) to inform the Athenians the outcome of the battle with invading Persians. The distance was filled with hills and other obstacles; thus Pheidippides arrived in Athens exhausted and with bleeding feet. After telling the townspeople of the Greeks' success in the battle, Pheidippides fell to the ground dead. In 1896, at the first modern Olympic Games, held a race of approximately the same length in commemoration of Pheidippides. The Exact Length of a Marathon During the first several modern Olympics, the marathon was always an approximate distance. In 1908, the British royal family requested that the marathon start at the Windsor Castle so that the royal children could witness its start. The distance from the Windsor Castle to the Olympic Stadium was 42,195 meters (or 26 miles and 385 yards). In 1924, this distance became the standardized length of a marathon. Women Women were first allowed to participate in 1900 at the second modern Olympic Games. Winter Games Begun The winter Olympic Games were first held in 1924, beginning a tradition of holding them a few months earlier and in a different city than the summer Olympic Games. Beginning in 1994, the winter Olympic Games were held in completely different years (two years apart) than the summer Games. Cancelled Games Because of World War I and World War II, there were no Olympic Games in 1916, 1940, or 1944. Tennis Banned Tennis was played at the Olympics until 1924, then reinstituted in 1988. Walt Disney In 1960, the Winter Olympic Games were held in Squaw Valley, California (United States). In order to bedazzle and impress the spectators, Walt Disney was head of the committee that organized the opening day ceremonies. The 1960 Winter Games Opening Ceremony was filled with high school choirs and bands, releasing of thousands of balloons, fireworks, ice statues, releasing of 2,000 white doves, and national flags dropped by parachute. Russia Not Present Though Russia had sent a few athletes to compete in the 1908 and 1912 Olympic Games, they did not compete again until the 1952 Games. Motor Boating Motor boating was an official sport at the 1908 Olympics. Polo, an Olympic Sport Polo was played at the Olympics in 1900, 1908, 1920, 1924, and 1936. Gymnasium The word "gymnasium" comes from the Greek root "gymnos" meaning nude; the literal meaning of "gymnasium" is "school for naked exercise." Athletes in the ancient Olympic Games would participate in the nude. Stadium The first recorded ancient Olympic Games were held in 776 BCE with only one event - the stade. The stade was a unit of measurement (about 600 feet) that also became the name of the footrace because it was the distance run. Since the track for the stade (race) was a stade (length), the location of the race became the stadium. Counting Olympiads An Olympiad is a period of four successive years. The Olympic Games celebrate each Olympiad. For the modern Olympic Games, the first Olympiad celebration was in 1896. Every four years celebrates another Olympiad; thus, even the Games that were cancelled (1916, 1940, and 1944) count as Olympiads. The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens was called the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad.

EL CHORRO GORGE AND ARDALES LAKES

For a great day out for all the family why not visit Malaga’s “Lake District”. There are three artificial lakes which have been created by a dam which is built across the striking 200m high Guadalhorce river gorge (Garganta del Chorro). The views are stunning and in the peaceful surroundings you can swim, fish or picnic on the shores of the lakes. Keep a look out for the eagles which circle around the sheer cliffs. Travelling through the Valle de Abdalajis the first sight of the dam and gorge area is on reaching the small village of El Chorro. During the construction of the reservoir between 1914 and 1921 a small bridge was built across the middle of the gorge. In 1921 King Alfonso XIII of Spain officially opened the dam and walked along a specially constructed catwalk called El Camino del Rey (the King’s Path). The catwalk is 100m above the river and pinned to the Gorge. The Camino del Rey is officially closed to the public awaiting repairs, however there are trained guides who take visitors along the path but it is not recommended for the faint-hearted. It is also a popular climbing area but should only be attempted by experienced climbers who are properly equipped. The beginning of the Camino del Rey can be found by driving across the lower dam into El Chorro village. Drive along the track on the left before the railway station and go past the camp site until you can go no further. You will have to walk the last few hundred meters. The path drops down and skirts the iron girder railway bridge but be careful crossing the line. (Von Ryans express was filmed here). The lakes are approximately 4km from here and can be reached by driving over the dam and following the road round to the left of the gorge. During the summer the lakes are very popular but due to the vastness of the shores a quiet place for sunbathing etc is easy to find. The lakeside restaurant of El Mirador is situated in a superb setting perched on top of a road tunnel and overlooking the lakes. Further along the lakes towards the picturesque dam, is El Kioskoll. There are several more bars along the lake side as well as good restaurants in El Chorro and beyond.