London’s Olympic story
Have the Olympic Games ever been held in your country? Have the Olympic Games ever been held in your city? Right now, people who live in London are getting ready for the 2012 Olympics next year. London has already hosted the Olympics twice before and this will make it the first city in history to have held three Olympic games.
The first London Olympics in 1908
These games were going to be held in Rome but, because of a volcano, Rome wasn’t ready. London agreed to stage the games and the White City Olympic stadium was built in just 10 months.
What was new?
New at these Olympics were the opening ceremony where athletes paraded with their teams behind their flag. Only 22 countries took part and the profits were just over £21,000!
The second London Olympics
Because of the second world war, the 1944 Olympics were cancelled. Four years later the war was over and London was able to hold the Games in 1948. Things were very different in London during these Olympic Games and many years of war had left the UK poor and hungry. People called them the "Austerity Games". But there was still some great sport and some exciting events!
What was new?
59 countries took part, more than at any other Olympics before and the USA won the most medals with 84. For the first time, cameras filmed the Games and broadcast them on television so that people could watch them in their own homes.
The third London Olympics in 2012
The Games next year are going to be bigger, better and more exciting than ever before. There will be more than 10,000 athletes from 204 countries taking part!
What’s going to be new?
London wants to make sure that the benefits of the Olympics don’t just last for a few weeks in summer but go on much longer. The buildings have been made so that they can be used for different things when the Games are over.
It’s been 68 years since the Olympics were held in London, let’s hope they come back sooner next time!