1948 and 2012 London Olympics compared

The world had just emerged from one of the most costly wars in modern times, much of London was in tatters and Britain was under rationing….so how did a country in such a dire state manage to host the most prestigious of Olympic Games and how does this compare to the forthcoming 2012 games?

In a new series, the BBC is exploring how the 1948 Olympic Games was staged using archive photographs, newspapers and film from the BBC itself as this was the first time British television had played a part in bringing the Olympics to the world.

The comparison is stark such as the competitors having to afix their own starting blocks to the tracks with hammer and nails, and some events such as gymnastics taking place in public parks rather than highly expensive custom built domes and other structures. One thing that is certain however – in 1948 the nation rose to the challenge of hosting the world’s greatest sporting occasion. Very soon the spotlight will be on London again…

Useful links:
BBC Looks at 1948 Olympic Games
Hotels around London
London tourist attractions