With Olympic fever gripping the country we thought we’d look at Olympic London past and present in this week’s going for gold FACTS…
FACT 1: London is the first city to host the Games 3 times having hosted in 1908, 1948 and now also 2012.
FACT 2: For London 2012, 70,000 local volunteers were chosen from 300,000 people who put themselves forward.
FACT 3: In London 1908, for the first and last time in the Olympic Games, a sport called rackets was played. Rackets is the origin of modern squash.
FACT 4: After the war, there was hardly any money for the London 1948 Games meaning that each delegation had to bring their own food with them.
FACT 5:
In London 2012, women make their Olympic debut in the boxing ring. Women’s boxing has never featured in the Olympics until now.
FACT 6: The first time that athletes paraded with their flags during an Opening Ceremony was in London 1908.
FACT 7: London 2012 is the most eco-friendly Games so far widely using recyclable materials and less wood, steel and fuel.
FACT 8: The first woman to become Olympic champion was Brit tennis player Charlotte Cooper in Paris 1900.
FACT 9: Irish athletes boycotted the London 1908 Games due to Britain’s refusal to give Ireland independence.
FACT 10: The 1908 London Olympic Games were originally scheduled to be hosted by Rome, but because of the 1906 eruption of Mount Vesuvius the Games were relocated to London.
Related Links:
Relive the Olympic Opening Ceremony with our picture gallery.
See how London and the UK is being gripped by the Games with our Discovery Photo Finish image galleries and send us yours too.
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