The
1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the
Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an
international multi-sport event which was held in
London,
United Kingdom. After a hiatus of 12 years caused by
World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the
1936 Games in
Berlin. The 1940 Games had been scheduled for
Tokyo, and then
Helsinki; the 1944 Games had been provisionally planned for London.
In June 1939, the IOC gave the 1944 Games to London, ahead of Budapest, Lausanne, Helsinki and Athens. War stopped the plans and London again stood for 1948. The official report of the London Olympics that makes it plain that there was no case of London being pressed to run the Games against its will [1]. It says
In early March 1946 the IOC, through a postal vote, gave the summer Games to London and the winter competition to St Moritz. London was selected ahead of Baltimore, Lausanne, Los Angeles and Philadelphia.[2]
Lord Burghley had been Olympic captain in 1932 and 1936 and after the war he became president of the Amateur Athletics Association and of the IAAF, its international equivalent. He was named chairman of the organising and executive committees.
