Water Polo at the Olympic Games: London 1948

World War II caused the death of thousands of soldiers and common people and destroyed buildings, but not the willpower of the organisers of the Olympic Games. The 12th edition took place just three years after the end of the war and London, supposed to host the Games in 1944, was given the organisation of the event, although it had been dramatically affected by the conflict. These Olympics were inspired by austerity because of the war legacy and the troubled economic situation, therefore no new venues were built. The athletes were hosted in barracks, schools and hangars, rather than in a traditional Olympic Village.

by Simone Pierotti

However, the second London Olympics, which took place exactly 40 years after the first, featured a record 59 nations, with over 4,000 participating athletes.

These figures could have been even higher if Germany and Japan had been allowed to take part – they were not, for they were aggressors in World War II – and if the Soviet Union would have accepted to send athletes in London. Italy was the only country to be invited to participate despite its role in the early stages of the war and it has been reported that Sir Winston Churchill personally wanted the nation to be at the Games.Read more:

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