Welcoming the World's Best Athletes: An Olympic Challenge for Post-war Britain

After the end of the Second World War and despite the experience of the Berlin 1936 Games, the concept of Olympism still appeared to many politicians as a valid ideology to promote a new relationship between people and states. The XIVth celebration of the games, to be held in 1948, was decided immediately after the end of the conflict and London was chosen to host the meeting. National and international sports officials were as enthusiastic about the project, as were British political leaders. The games were a unique opportunity to 'reunite the world' and to show that Britain was still standing and capable of putting on a great show. But as soon as concrete plans were laid down to welcome the world's best athletes, things became much more difficult than already expected. The physical preparation of the games seemed to go beyond the capacity of the country financially drained by an unprecedented crisis. Focusing on the preparation of the venues to host the athletes, this article examines how the games were considered behind the scenes. It emphasizes the tension between the organizers and the government, and eventually shows how the difficulties were ( if at all) presented to the world.