The 1948 London Olympics Gallery

The XIIth Games, of 1940, were originally awarded to Tokyo and then Helsinki, but were eventually cancelled after the outbreak of World War Two. Optimistically, the International Olympic Committee chose London to host the XIIIth Games in 1944, only to see them cancelled again.

With the war finally over a postal vote of IOC members again selected London to host the Olympics. Six years of war had left Britain with rationing of food and clothing, and housing was in short supply, such that the 1948 celebrations became known as the 'Austerity Games'.

The Wembley cauldron is lit	The British Olympic gymnastics team practising in Hyde Park	The final runner of the torch relay enters Wembley stadium
Medal ceremony for the 1948 Olympic football tournament	Photo-finish of the 100m final in 1948	Fanny Blankers-Koen
Television and the Games	Tebbs Lloyd-Johnson (GBR)	The pole vault in 1948

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