My Dad at the 1948 London Olympics - Blog Day 11

The Opening Ceremonies for the 1948 London Olympics were held at London's Wembley Stadium

on July 29th, 1948.

The Canadian Olympic Team walking into Wembley Stadium which shows where Dad was in the group.

Here, the Canadian Olympic Team ladies are on their way to the flag unveiling ceremony, lead by Ann Clark from the Women's Track Team.

This is the Canadian Olympic Team marching into Wembley Stadium under the Olympic motto and where the Olympic Flame will be lit ...

 .... and marching past the King and Queen of England.

The Olympians were to look at King George as they passed, and as you can see below, King George stood to salute the athletes.

King George, father of the current Queen Elizabeth, is the King who has recently been made famous from the film, "The King's Speech".  He is the same King who presided over the 1948 London Olympics and to whom "God Save the King" was sung.  His wife, Queen Elizabeth, is who became known as the Queen Mother .... the currently Queen Elizabeth's mother.

This was the first Olympics that was ever televised (television camera on the left) ...... although in my father's case, his family back in Canada did not have a television so they relied on listening to the radio for their Olympic coverage in 1948.

The Olympic Torch is carried by England's athlete, John Mark where he lit the Olympic Flame under the Olympic motto that was above the stands.


The Olympic Motto was a quotation from the founder of the Olympics, Baron Pierre de Coubertin:
"The important thing in the Olympic games is not winning, but taking part.  The essential thing in life is not conquering, but fighting well."

This 4-3/4 inch by 3-1/2 inch card was tucked inside my Dad's Passport used in 1948, along with his return ticket to show what Berth he was staying in on the ship and the stamped landing card to indicate their arrival back into Halifax.  

Part of the opening ceremonies was the release of 7,000 pigeons.

This photo shows the crowds of people on the street outside Wembley Stadium.

This is a rare colour photograph of the Opening Ceremonies.

Needless to say, my Dad said he and his team mates were overwhelmed, in awe and excited to be part of the Opening Ceremonies.  Dad said he couldn't sleep that night as he was so wound up with excitement following such an incredible day.

The following video, while not in English, shows some of the Canadian Olympic Team at the 1:03 minute point .....

This following video is a montage of various video clips of the Opening Ceremonies.

I would like to mention Canada's 2012 Olympian, Mary Spencer, who is part of yet another Olympic historic moment with a female Boxing Event for the first time ever.  While Mary did not become an Olympic medal contender today, she is still a wonderful representative for Canada.  Way to go Mary!