| 1948 Summer Olympics medals | |
|---|---|
| Location | London,  Great Britain |
| Highlights | |
| Most gold medals |  United States (38) |
| Most total medals | United States (84) |
| Medalling NOCs | 37 |
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The 1948 Summer Olympics (also known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad) was an international multi-sport event held from July 29 through August 14, 1948, in London, United Kingdom.[2] It was the first Olympic Games to take place in twelve years, due to the Second World War (and was known informally as "The Austerity Games" – largely due to countries having to bring their own food due to shortages in Britain), with London being chosen as the host city in May 1946.[3][4]
London had previously hosted the 1908 Summer Olympics, and was due to have hosted the event in 1944.[1] A record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men and 385 women, in 19 sport disciplines. Following the Second World War, Germany and Japan remained under military occupation and had not yet formed their National Olympic Committee,[5] and so were not invited.[6] The only major Axis power to take part in the Games was Italy.[5] The Soviet Union was invited to compete, but chose not to send any athletes, sending observers instead to prepare for the 1952 Summer Olympics.[7] Following the threats of a boycott from Arab countries should an Israeli team fly their flag at the opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) excluded Israel from the Games on a technicality.[8][1]
Several countries participated for the first time, including Burma, Ceylon, Lebanon, Puerto Rico and Syria.[9] The Olympic medals themselves were the standard Trionfo design used for the Olympic medals between 1928 and 1968.[10]
It was not until 2010 that Belgian Eugène Van Roosbroeck received his gold medal for his part in the cycling road race as there was no podium for winners following the race and the team returned to Belgium two days after the event having received no medals.[11]
- ^ a b c "The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad" (PDF). The Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad. 1948. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ Johnston, Mindy (12 August 2024). "London 1948 Olympic Games". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ Elliott, Larry (30 March 2012). "London's 1948 Olympics: the real austerity Games". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ "London 1948: Only two years to prepare and huge challenges". International Olympic Committee. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
- ^ a b Findling (1996): p. 111
- ^ Findling (1996): p. 103
- ^ Findling (1996): p. 104
- ^ Findling (1996): p. 105
- ^ "London 1948". Olympic.org. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ "Winner's Medal for the 1948 Olympic Games in London". Olympic.org. Archived from the original on 2023-08-05. Retrieved 2011-08-28.
- ^ MacLeary, John (8 June 2010). "Belgian cycling team finally receive gold medals for 1948 London Olympic Games". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 20 September 2011.