London Olympic trivia - did you know?

How many times has London hosted the Olympic Games?

The 2012 Olympics is the third summer Games to be held in the city of London. London has hosted summer Olympics twice before in 1908 and 1948 and with this year's Games the city will become the first to host the Games three times.

What natural disaster gave London the games in 1908?

How many days did the 1908 games last?

The 1908 Olympic Games were scheduled to take place in Rome, but the eruption of Mount Vesuvius on 7 April 1906 prompted the shifting of the Games to London. The Games took place from the 27 April to 31 October 1908. Lasting a total of 187 days these games were the longest in modern Olympics history; since 1988, the modern Games have lasted 17 days. The 1908 Games featured athletes representing 22 National Olympic Committees, competing in 22 sports.

The 1948 Olympics was the first to be held after World War II, after the 1944 Games was cancelled due to the war. The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in London, from 29 July to 14 August 1948.

The 1940 Olympic Games had been scheduled for Tokyo, and then for Helsinki; the 1944 Olympic Games had been provisionally planned for London.

How many men and women took part in the 1948 Olympics?

The event came to be known as the Austerity Games, because of the economic climate and rationing imposed in the after the war. No new venues were built for the games, the majority of events took place m at the Empire Stadium and the Empire Pool at Wembley Park and athletes were housed in existing accommodation at the Wembley area. In 1940 a record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men and 390 women, in 19 sports.

The 2012 Olympics took place in London between 27 July-12 August 2012.

Did you know that over 900 million people watched the opening ceremony on TV?

During the opening ceremony the were 40 sheep, 12 horses, 3 cows, 2 goats, 10 chickens, 10 ducks, 9 geese and 3 sheep dogs, all taking part and looked after by 34 animal handlers.

My favourite moment in the opening ceremony had to be the arrival of the Queen.