Games of the IV Olympiad. Olympic Winter Games Applied and Wellness

Time spending July 13-25, 1908
Number of disciplines: 26
Countries: 20
Number of athletes: 431
men: 431
women: 0
Youngest member: Victor Jacquemin (Belgium, age: 16, 130 days)
Oldest member: John Flanagan (USA, age: 40, 170 days)
Medal Winning Countries: United States (34)
Medal winners:
Mel Sheppard USA (3)
Martin Sheridan USA (3)

On the opening day of the Olympics, a thick fog hung over London, it was pouring rain, the cold chilled to the bone. There were few spectators, but the honorary box was filled with crowned and dignitaries: the English king Edward VII with Queen Alexandra, the ruler of Nepal, the Greek princess, the ambassadors of France, Russia, Italy.

For the first time, during the solemn parade, the teams marched under the national flags, and each one wore its own unique costume. At the previous Games, participants marched in sports uniform.

When the Olympics ended, tables of the counting of medals won by teams from different countries appeared in print (which later became a common practice).

The London Games presented the world with the "golden" Olympic formula: "The main thing is not victory, but participation!" She is often attributed to Coubertin. In fact, these words were uttered on July 19, 1908, by the Bishop of Pennsylvania during a service at St. Paul's Cathedral in honor of the participants in the Games.

Athletics competitions at the IV Summer Olympic Games were held from 13 to 25 July. There were 431 athletes from 20 countries who competed for 26 sets of medals.
13 records were set in athletics.

For the first time, there were competitions in walking (3500 m and 10 miles), javelin throw (in two different styles), discus throw in the Greek style, 5 miles running (later replaced by a distance of 10,000 m) and mixed relay. The distance in the hurdle race became 3200 m, and in the team race it became 3 miles. The 60m, 200m hurdles, all-around, triple jump and 56-pound throw were canceled.

In athletics, the competition was held in 27 types (tug of war, which was part of the athletics program, is currently a separate sport). Long distance running (5 miles) and race walking (3500 m and 10 miles) have been added; the only time in the history of the Games was a mixed relay race (200 + 200 + 400 + 800 m), competitions in discus throw and javelin throw in the Greek style.

In a smooth sprint, not a single representative of the United States managed to win: South African Reginald Walker won in the 100 m race, and Robert Kerr of Canada won the 200 m race. In the 400m final, there was a scandal - American John Carpenter, who finished first, was disqualified for pushing Briton Wyndham Halswell. A re-race was scheduled, to which the other two Americans did not come out of solidarity, and Halswell became the champion, running the distance alone. One of those who refused, John Taylor, having won the relay in the national team, became the first African American Olympic champion.

In the middle distance race - 800 and 1500 m - the best was American Melvin Shepperd. The distance was won by representatives of Great Britain: Emile Voight (5 miles), Arthur Russell (3200 m with obstacles) and the national team (team run 3 miles).

The marathon distance was planned to be 25 miles (40.23 km). The start was made in Windsor, and at the request of the royal family, it was moved to the balcony of Windsor Castle, which increased the distance to 42.195 km. Despite the fact that at the Olympics of 1912 and 1920 the length of the marathon was different, since the Games of 1924 it was 42 km 195 m that became the classic marathon length.

During the race, an incident occurred that became one of the most high-profile events of the Olympics. The Italian Dorando Pietri, who took the lead a mile before the stadium, already at the stadium began to lose orientation in space, fell several times; with the help of a judge and a journalist (who was reportedly the writer Arthur Conan Doyle), he crossed the finish line, but was disqualified for receiving outside help. As a result, the American John Hayes became the champion (his result was better than that of the winners of the previous Games, although the distance became longer), and Pietri received a special prize - a golden cup - from the hands of the queen.

In hurdling, the Americans had an overwhelming advantage (Forrest Smithson in 110 m and Charles Bacon in 400 m became champions), and in race walking - the British (both distances were won by George Larner).

Most of the jumping events were won by the representatives of the USA: Harry Porter - high jump, Francis Irons - long jump, Alfred Gilbert and Edward Cook shared the championship in pole vault; Briton Timothy Ehern won the triple jump. 35-year-old American Rei Yuri, having won the high and long jump, became an 8-time Olympic champion.

In the throws, as in the previous Games, the winners were Americans Martin Sheridan (freestyle and Greek discus throws), John Flanagan (hammer throws) and Ralph Rose (shot put). Both ways in javelin throw were won by the Swede Eric Lemming, and he showed his best result in throwing with the Greek style.

Country

431 athletes from 20 countries took part in the track and field competitions.
The number of athletes is indicated in brackets:

Australasia (9) *
Austria (2)
Belgium (6)
Bohemia (3)
United Kingdom (126)
Hungary U19
Germany (20)
Greece (12)
Denmark (8)
Italy (12)
Canada (27)
Netherlands U19
Norway (11)
Russia 1)
United States (84)
Finland (15)
France (19)
Switzerland (1)
Sweden (31)
South Africa (6)

* Due to the fact that the Olympic Association of New Zealand was formed only in 1911, at the 1908 Summer Olympics, New Zealand athletes competed as a team with Australian athletes. This combined team competed as an Australasia team and won bronze in 3500 m race walking (Herry Kerr, New Zealand).

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES, complex competitions in winter sports, held by the IOC once every 4 years. The decision to hold the independent Olympic Winter Games on a regular basis was made in 1925 at the IOC Session in Prague. This was facilitated by the success of the world competitions in winter sports - the International Sports Week on the occasion of the VIII Olympiad (1924, Chamonix, France), which the IOC gave the name “I Olympic winter Games"; the term "Olympiad" is not accepted in connection with the Olympic Winter Games, but the name "White Olympiad" is sometimes used in sports and popular literature. Until 1992, the Olympic Winter Games were held in the year of the Summer Olympic Games, from 1994 - in the middle of the Olympic cycle. The program includes 7 Olympic sports .

In 1924–2014, 22 Olympic Winter Games were held - in the United States (4), France (3), Switzerland, Austria, Norway, Japan, Italy, Canada (2 each), Germany, Yugoslavia, and Russia (1 each). The most common capitals of the Olympic Winter Games were St. Moritz, Lake Placid and Innsbruck (2 times). In 1968 at the Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble first appeared olympic mascot... At the Olympic Winter Games, the same ceremonies are held as at the Summer Olympic Games, lighting the Olympic flame, raising the Olympic flag (with the same emblem), opening and closing parades, awarding Olympic champions and prize-winners, etc. Olympic records are recorded only in speed skating. The high prestige of the competitions is evidenced by the list of statesmen and crowned persons who officially opened them: Chamonix, 1924 - Gaston Vidal (Deputy Secretary of State of France); St. Moritz, 1928 - Edmund Schultes (President of Switzerland); Lake Placid, 1932 - Franklin Delano Roosevelt (Governor of New York, USA); Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1936 - Adolf Hitler (Reich Chancellor of Germany); St. Moritz, 1948 - Enrico Celio (President of Switzerland); Oslo, 1952 - Princess Ragnhilda (Her Royal Highness of Norway) Cortina d "Ampezzo, 1956 - Giovanni Gronchi (President of Italy); Squaw Valley, 1960 - Richard Nixon (Vice President of the United States); Innsbruck, 1964 - Adolph Scherf (Federal President of Austria); Grenoble, 1968 - Charles de Gaulle (President France); Sapporo, 1972 - Hirohito (Emperor of Japan); Innsbruck, 1976 - Rudolf Kirchhagler (Federal President of Austria); Lake Placid, 1980 - Walter Mondale (Vice President of the United States); Sarajevo, 1984 - Mika Shpilyak (President of Yugoslavia) ; Calgary, 1988 - Jeanne Matilda Sauve (Governor General of Canada); Albertville, 1992 - Francois Mitterrand (President of France); Lillehammer, 1994 - Harald V (King of Norway); Nagano, 1998 - Akihito (Emperor of Japan); Salt Lake -City, 2002 - George W. Bush (President of the USA); Turin, 2006 - Carlo Azeello Ciampi (President of Italy); Vancouver, 2010 - Michael Jean (Governor General of Canada); Sochi, 2014 - Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (President of Russia) In the entire history of the White Olympiads, women have only opened them twice (Oslo, 1952; Calgary, 1988).

The largest number of medals in the history of the Olympic Winter Games (as of 1.1.2018) was won by athletes from the national teams: Russia; Norway (22; 118, 111, 100); USA (22; 96, 102, 83); Germany; Sweden (22; 50, 40, 54); Finland (22; 42, 62, 57).

For the dates and main results of all Olympic Winter Games, see table 1. For the athletes who won the largest number of Olympic medals at the Olympic Winter Games, see table 2. For athletes who took part in 6 or more White Olympiads, see the table 3.

Table 1. The main results of the Olympic Winter Games (Chamonix, 1924 - Sochi, 2014)

* United German team.

** United team of the countries of the former USSR.

Table 2. Athletes with the most victories at the Olympic Winter Games (Chamonix, 1924 - Sochi, 2014).

* In 2006 (Turin) played for the national team of the Republic of Korea.

3 gold each Olympic medals won the St. 50 athletes (as of 1.1.2018), including representatives of Russia (including the USSR): K. S. Boyarskikh, E. V. Vyalbe, N. V. Gavrylyuk, V. S. Davydov, V. G. Kuzkin , A. P. Ragulin, A. A. Reztsova, I. K. Rodnina, V. A. Tretyak, A. V. Firsov, A. V. Khomutov, Yu. A. Chepalova.

Table 3. Athletes who competed at 6 or more Olympic Winter Games (as of 1.1.2018)

* The athlete also competed in the Olympic Games.

Olympic Games 1908 were held in London, the capital of Great Britain.

The duration of the Games, like almost all pre-war games (before the First World War in 1914), was about six months - from April 27 to October 31. Initially, in addition to London, applications for the right to host the IV Olympic Games were submitted by German Berlin, Italian Milan and Rome. But since the German Olympic Committee did not receive the support of their own government, the Germans withdrew Berlin's candidacy. Rome was elected host city at the IOC Session by secret ballot. However, due to controversy in the Italian government and in addition to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, “ The Eternal City "decided to waive the right to host the Olympic Games... Soon, the members of the IOC decided to give this right to London.
In the suburbs of London in 1908, a Franco-British exhibition was supposed to be held, and once again the Olympic Games could become just an application of this exhibition. But by 1908, the IOC's influence in Europe was more significant than during the 1900 and 1094 Games. Therefore, preparations for the Olympic Games were carried out systematically, did not interfere with the events of the Exhibition.
In London, a modern White City stadium was built during the year, with a capacity of 100 thousand viewers... It had a large area, which housed a swimming pool 100 meters long and 15 meters wide and an arena for wrestling competitions. Also at the same stadium there was a track for cycling competitions. For this, a special cycle path was laid around the cinder track.

During the opening of the Olympic Games, which took place much later than the start of the competition - on July 13, a thick gray fog reigned over London, it rained all day, the cold penetrated the hearts of even the most hardy fans. Therefore, most likely because of this, there were so few spectators at the stadium. In the box for the guests of honor there were many dignitaries and crowned persons: the English king Edward VII, who sat next to Queen Alexandra, the sheikh of Nepal and the Greek princess. This is not taking into account the ambassadors from France, Russia, Italy ...

These Olympic Games had a large number of participants, the program included many sports, and the results shown at these Games were significantly higher than at all previous ones. 109 gold medals were raffled in London, for which they entered the struggle 2008 athletes from 22 countries of the world (including 36 women). This is significantly more than at the three previous Olympics. For the first time, athletes from Iceland, New Zealand, Russia and Turkey took part in the Olympic Games. Finland (was part of Russian Empire) performed at the Games as an independent team. Athletes from New Zealand played alongside the Australians, and the team was called Australasia. The largest team was the host team of the Games - 710 athletes.

The 1908 Olympic Games program included competitions in 24 sports: rowing, freestyle and classical wrestling, boxing, cycling, water polo, gymnastics, athletics, lacrosse, sailing, swimming and diving, rugby, racket, shooting, archery, tennis on the courts and in the hall, fencing and football. For the first time, competitions were held in powerboat sports, horse polo and field hockey. Also included was a new sport called je de pom (an old French ball game reminiscent of tennis).
In London, for the first time in the framework of the Summer Olympic Games, competitions were held in figure skating skating on artificial ice. It should also be noted participation of women in competitions tennis, archery and figure skating.
At these Games, during the opening ceremony, for the first time, there was a solemn parade of participants. The teams flew under the flags of their countries and each team was dressed in different costumes. When the Games in London ended, the results of the unofficial team competition were published in the press for the first time.

At the 1908 Olympics, there were set 13 world records in athletics. American Forrest Smithson ran 110 meters hurdles in 15.0 seconds. His compatriot Charles Bacon managed to show the result of 55.0 seconds at a distance of 400 meters with hurdles. George Larner became the 10 mile walking champion, covering the distance in 1 hour 15 minutes 57.4 seconds. The Swede Eric Lemming threw a javelin at 54 m 82.5 cm. Runner Melvin Sheppard won three gold medals (at 800 and 1500 meters, setting a world record at the first distance, the Olympic record at the second).

The unsurpassed standing jumper, who won three gold medals each in Paris and St. Louis, won two more (for high jump and long jump). American athletes dominated athletics, followed by British athletes, followed by the Swedes.

An interesting incident happened in a marathon competition. The race took place on July 24, 1908 in an incredible heat. 57 athletes took part in the race. Italian runner Dorando Pietri, having covered almost the entire distance, ran to the finish line first. Absolutely exhausted, the audience greeted with enthusiastic applause. A few hundred meters before the finish line, Pietri lost his orientation and turned in the wrong direction.

The judges told him that he was running in the wrong direction, but the exhausted athlete fell. He got up with the help of the judges and went to the finish line. The strength left him so much that during the last 200 meters of the distance he fell 4 more times, each time getting up with the help of the judges. However, he did cross the finish line first, albeit with the support of a judge. The American finished second and the US team filed a protest, as Pietri was helped by the referees, the protest was accepted and the Italian was stripped of the title of the winner. However, Dorando's determination and willpower were rewarded. Especially by order of Queen Alexandra, the exact same winner's cup (only of gilded silver) was made, which was presented to Pietri during the official award ceremony.

Also in London there were problems with refereeing. During the track and field competitions, there were several clashes between the Americans and the British. There was a huge scandal during the final 400 meters race. The Americans decided to win the Games at any cost. Two of them detained the Englishman at the turn. The violation was clear and the judges canceled the results of the race. After 2 days, a second race was held, in which the Americans refused to take part (considering it dishonest) and the British, not feeling behind the competitors' backs, confidently finished first.

Several swimming world records were broken at the IV Olympic Games. American Charles Daniels, two-time champion St. Louis Games, swam a hundred-meter freestyle in 1.05.6 minutes. Englishman Henry Taylor set two world records at distances of 400 and 1500 meters freestyle.
The host team of the Games, which won the Belgians in the final, became the champion in water polo. In rowing, the British won all the races, and in particular the "eights" race. The first real Olympic football tournament took place in London in 1908. And again, the gold awards went to the British. In the final match, the founders of modern football defeated the French national team with a score of 2: 0.

The London Games were the first for athletes from the Russian Empire... The application sent to London from Russia contained eight names. But five athletes participated in the Games. The Olympic debut of Russian athletes was extremely successful. Out of five people, three managed to win awards. The Olympic gold medal (the only one ever for the Russian Empire) was won by a skater . Nikolay Orlov and Andrey Petrov became prize-winners in wrestling competitions.

The first place in the unofficial team event at these Olympic Games was taken by the UK team with 303.5 points and 147 medals. In second place is the United States (103.3 points and 47 medals). the third place was taken by the Swedish national team (46.3 points and 25 medals).

The Games ended on October 31, although as such there was no official closing ceremony for the Olympic Games. In one of the London restaurants, a banquet was held to mark the end of the Games, which was attended by officials and mainly local athletes. The next Games of 1912 were to be held in Stockholm.

The most famous US-British scandal occurred during the final 400m race. Three American runners reached the final - Carpenter, Taylor and Robbins, and Scotsman Halswell, who plays for the UK team and set a new Olympic record in the preliminary race - 48.4 seconds.