Olympic Collection (#39)

Starting blocks - 1948 Olympics
New adjustable, aluminium starting blocks developed by Mr. H. Rottenburg and used at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Date: 1948

The Olympic Games - London, 1908
Scenes from the 1908 Olympic Games, held at Shepherds Bush stadium in London. 1. R. W. Rose (U.S.), winner of Putting the Weight, 46ft 7 1/2 in. 2. Gymnastic Team Competition - Swedish. 3. H

Starting blocks - 1948 Olympic Games
New adjustable, aluminium starting blocks developed by Mr. H. Rottenburg and used at the 1948 Olympic Games in London. Date: 1948

Olympics - London 1908
Series of photographs taken from the 1908 Olympic Games in London. 1. Weighing the javelins. 2. Swedish president congratulating the winner. 3. E. V

Close of the 1948 Olympic Games
Closing the Olympic Games ceremony at Wembley Stadium, London, on the 14th August 1948. The white Tribune of Honour was placed before the Royal box (occupied by the Duke of Edinburgh)

Four-Poster Bedroom on board Titanic
Photograph of a four poster bed in one of the first class bedrooms on the Titanic. Built by the shipyard Harland and Wolff for White Star Lines, the liner was almost identical to her sister ship

The King Opens the Olympic Games, 1908
Illustration by W. Hatherell showing Edward VII with Queen Alexandra at the opening of the 1908 Olympic Games in London. Rome had originally been selected to host the 1908 Olympics

Jesse Owens (1913-1980)
Photograph of Jesse James Cleveland Owens, the US athlete, pictured with his Olympic oak-trees and medals, 1936. Owens won four gold medals at the the 1936 Berlin Olympics - the 100 metres

William D. Billy Sherring (1878-1964) wins the marathon race at the 1906 Summer Olympics. Prince George of Greece is running the last 50 metres alongside Sherring. Date: 1906

Pin, Olympic Games Cross Channel swim
Pin for the Olympic Games Cross Channel swim. Date: 1928

The first big audience at the 1908 London Olympics
50, 000 spectators witnessing the 100 kilometres cycle race. Up until this point, the events had been poorly attended, with thousands of seat unfilled each day

The Olympic Swimming Pool, 1948 London Olympic Games
The Borough Swimming Pool at Aldershot viewed from the air, ready for the XIVth Olympiad in London, 1948. Date: 1948

Scouts at 1948 London Olympics
Scouts lining the opening ceremony of the 1948 London Olympics at Wembley Stadium. 1948

A girls marathon in traditional Greek costume?
The Sketch suggests that the problem of empty seats that beset the 1908 London Olympics could have been solved by holding a girls marathon in the becoming Ancient Greek women-runners costume

Scouts at Olympic opening ceremony
Scouts holding nationality signs during the opening ceremony of the 1948 London Olympics at Wembley Stadium. 1948

McGrew does the high jump, 1948 London Olympics
This is the American McGrews third, and successful, attempt to clear 6 foot 1 5/8 inches. Date: 1948

Hurdles, 1948 London Olympics
The photograph on the left shows the semi-final of the 400 metres hurdling. Second from left competitor, Larsson of Sweden (no.128) is about to draw ahead and take the victory

Olympics opens, last of the touch bearers lights the beacon
At Wembley Stadium, London, John Mark British Athlete, the last of the touch bearers who had carried the living flame 2000 miles from Greece, lights the Olympic beacon

Closing ceremony of the 1948 London Olympic Games
An Epitaph to the Games in Sketch magazine. The photographs feature the lowered Olympic flag and extinguished beacon. Date: 1948

Olympic poem
A satirical take on the Olympics by Alan Melville. 1948

Reiff, winner of the 5, 000 metres, 1948 London Olympics
Belgian long-distance runner Reiff managed to snatch the lead from the Czech competitor Zatopek with three laps to go, to win the 5, 000 metres at 1984 London Olympic Games. Date: 1948

A. E. Panhorst-Niesink putting-the-shot, 1948 Olympics
A. E. Panhorst-Niesink, a competitor from Holland, taking part in the qualifying rounds of the womens shot put. This event was included for the first time at the XIVth Olympiad in London. Date: 1948

Olympic cartoon
A lady photographer tries to get closer to the action in this cartoon. 1948

John Mark carrying the Olympic torch, opening ceremony, 1948
The athlete and Surbiton medical student John Mark, a former Cambridge blue and quarter-miler, circles Wembley Arena with the Olympic torch. Date: 1948

Edelman does the high jump, 1948 London Olympics
The American Edelman is seen here clearing 6 foot 1 5/8 inches. Date: 1948

American Olympic athletes march round Wembley Stadium, 1948
The American contingent of athletes, the largest at the games, marching round Wembley Arena. 58 nations and 6, 000 competitors took part in the march during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games

Sailing at 1948 Olympics

Fanny Blankers-Koens reception in Amsterdam
Dutch athlete Mrs Fanny Blankers-Koen was a star of the 1948 London Olympics, becoming the first woman ever to win three Olympic titles. She won the 100 and 200 metres, and the 80 metres hurdles

Scout leading Norway at 1948 London Olympics
Scout holding the Norway sign in front of the Norwegian atheletic contingent to the 1948 London Olympics at Wembley Stadium. 1948

The final of the 100 Metres, 1948 London Olympics
A photo finish of the 100 metres final. Left to right: Harrison Dillard (no. 69, USA) came first, E. Macdonald Bailey (no. 35) was last, McCorquodale (no)

Heavyweight boxing, 1948 London Olympics
E.J. Lambert of the USA (right) and F. Bothy of Belgium competing for heavyweight honours at the Empire Pool (hence the reflection in the lower half of the photograph)

Front cover of the Sphere, the Olympic torch enters Wembley
Photograph taken during the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympic Games in London, as the last runner enters Wembley Stadium with the Olympic flame, ready to set light to the Olympic Altar. Date: 1948

B. Singh, long jump, 1948 London Olympics
B. Singh took part in the long jump event to enthusiastic applause. A sikh, he wore his hair tied in a handkerchief. Date: 1948

Basketball at the 1948 London Olympic
Britain lost to China 54 to 25 in this basketball match at Harringay Arena. Britain on the whole did badly in this event. Date: 1948

Sea Scouts helping at Olympics
Sea Scouts assisting with the boats at Torquay during the 1948 Olympics. 1948

Miss Maud Allan in the ruins of Olympia
Dancer Miss Maud Allan " transported" to the ruins of Olympia in a photograph for the Sketch. She had recently performed in a special matinee in aid of the entertainment fund for Olympic

Weight-lifters and wrestlers, 1948 London Olympics
This full page of the Sphere shows weight-lifters Joe de Pietro of America (top) and Shams of Egypt (bottom right), and wrestlers Anderberg of Sweden and Toth of Hungary. Date: 1948

A casualty at the 1948 London Olympics
A. B. Toulsen of Denmark receives medical treatment after collapsing during the 5, 000 Metres. Date: 1948

Expressions and Impressions, 1948 London Olympic Games
A selection of striking athletic images captured at the 1948 London Olympic Games. Date: 1948

John Mark lights the Olympic bowl, opening ceremony, 1948
The athlete and Surbiton medical student John Mark, a former Cambridge blue and quarter-miler, lights the bowl on the peristyle, on the east terrace of Wembley Stadium

Page from The Sphere, 4th May 1912, called The Newsletter, Week by Week. It features images of Indian students who have studied at the London School of Economics; Signor Murri

Scouts releasing pigeons at Olympics
Scouts releasing pigeons as part of the opening ceremony of the 1948 London Olympics at Wembley Stadium. 1948

Front cover of the Sketch, marathon runner J. J. Hayes
The controversial American winner of the 1908 Olympic marathon. Although beaten to the finish by the Italian competitor, Dorando

Start of a 100 Metre heat, 1948 London Olympics
The start of a 100 Metres heat. The runners from right to left are: Haukur Clausen (Iceland), S. C. Lines (Bermuda), C. Silva (Chile), B. O. Lovina (Philipines), E. Macdonald Bailey (Britain), and A

Lloyd B. Labeach sprinting, 1948 London Olympics
Sprinter Lloyd B. Labeach from Panama thrusts forward to win Heat 4 in the second round of the 100 Metres competition. His time was 10.5 seconds. Date: 1948

Basketball at the 1948 London Olympics
In this sparsely-attended basketball match at Harringay Arena, the American team (in white) beat the Swiss team. Date: 1948

Opening Ceremony, Wembley Stadium, 1948 London Olympics
An aerial view of Wembley Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the 1948 London Olympic Games. Date: 1948

Sea Scouts helping at 1948 Olympics
Sea Scouts assisting with the boats at Torquay during the 1948 Olympics. 1948

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"Capturing the Spirit of Unity: A Glimpse into Olympic History" The Olympic Games have long been a symbol of athletic excellence, international camaraderie, and moments that transcend mere competition. In 1968, American runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos made an indelible statement during the medal ceremonies in Mexico City by raising their fists in the Black Power salute, igniting a powerful conversation about racial equality. Amidst this historic moment, Australian Peter Norman stood alongside them wearing an OPHR badge as a sign of solidarity. These athletes showcased how the they can become a platform for social change and inspire generations to come. Flashback to 1924 when Eric Liddell's unwavering determination led him to victory in the Olympic 400m race finish. His triumph exemplified not only athletic prowess but also unwavering faith and conviction. Speaking of triumphs, Harold Abrahams' electrifying win in the 100m event at the 1924 Olympics remains etched in our memories. His dedication and perseverance serve as reminders that dreams can be realized with relentless effort. Fast forward to Berlin's Olympic Games in 1936 where Jesse Owens defied all odds by dominating the Long Jump event amidst Adolf Hitler's regime. Owens shattered barriers both on and off the field, proving that talent knows no boundaries. Meanwhile, let us not forget London's iconic Wembley Stadium from the 1950s - witness to countless sporting spectacles including memorable Olympic moments. Its hallowed grounds have witnessed tears of joy and heartbreak alike throughout history. In another era altogether lies RMS Olympic - White Star Line's majestic vessel which sailed across oceans before her sister ship Titanic met its tragic fate. The legacy of these ships serves as a reminder that even grand structures are subject to unforeseen circumstances. Shifting gears towards more recent times brings us to Whistler mountain resort – host venue of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.