The Olympics Marathon One Hundred Years Ago

RSS
Email

0 Kudo

Author	Comment
thamesweb	The Olympics Marathon One Hundred Years Ago	Lead	[-]
Posts: 1120 (05/13/08 09:09:18) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Tags : None The start of the 1908 Marathon on the lawns of the East Terrace at Windsor Castle The runners a few moments later on Castle Hill Around the corner in Thames Street and the runners approach the inclined turn around the base of the Curfew Tower Crowds waiting on the steep slopes overlooking Thames Street opposite the Theatre Royal The runners approach Windsor Bridge in Thames Street The race became infamous when the leader into the stadium at White City, the Italian, Dorando Pietri, collapsed five times on the track, and was helped to his feet so he could make it across the finishing line. He was disqualified for receiving assistance and the runner who finished 32 seconds behind him, Johnny Hayes, of the United States, was awarded the winner's gold medal. But Dorando had attracted such public support and sympathy that a short while later he was presented with a gold cup by Queen Alexandra. Last Edited By: thamesweb 05/13/08 09:37:50. Edited 1 time.
Pat Larkin	great pictures of the 1908 marathon	#1	[-]
Posts: 143 (05/14/08 07:30:13) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	We've just looked at these wonderful photos and can't believe the crowds and most of all, how they were 'allowed' to stand the 'other' side of the wall of the castle. Where would they have gained entrance and who were they? What I mean is, were they special guests or maybe relatives of the contestants? Neither of us has ever seen one person, let alone crowds, on those slopes... The Olympic Games of 1948, held in England. My husband tells me he remembers the runners passing him near the Eton Playing Fields. He and his 'gang', sat on a wall watching the athletes running past. They were running on the main road. There were crowds of people there too all cheering the runners along their way. Do you know the name of the winner of the 1948 marathon? He also says he went with a crowd of friends on a coach trip to The Wembley Ice Rink to see the ice hockey competitions for The Olympics in 1948.
thamesweb		#2	[-]
Posts: 1122 (05/14/08 11:05:59) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	I agree about the crowds on the steep slopes opposite the theatre. I suspect they either opened up the area especially, or they were castle staff and friends. Access would have been from the Hundred Steps presumably. Around the corner, on the grass behind the wall running up to Castle Hill, there is access. On several occasions you can see people there, and even a stand erected I think for the State Entry in 1937, or was it the Proclamation in 1910.
thamesweb		#3	[-]
Posts: 1123 (05/14/08 11:08:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Somewhere I have a very brief glimpse of a runner and the Olympic Torch being carried over Windsor Bridge in 1948, plus some motor cruisers below Windsor Bridge with Farmyard beyond. Then it is an extended clip of a ginger cat... Family movies!!! Here is a better movie 1948 Marathon News Clip Last Edited By: thamesweb 05/14/08 11:10:56. Edited 1 times.
Pat Larkin	1948 Olympics	#4	[-]
Posts: 145 (05/14/08 22:53:31) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts Message Me Connection Blocking Invite Ignore User's Posts	Thamesweb, many thanks for the 1948 link. We both watched it and enjoyed it too. We saw in the Marathon that Argentina came first, with Great Britain in second place, Belgium third. We also watched the 'official' film....the commentary was in Italian, but that didn't matter. I've saved the link so that we can enjoy more clips of several other Olympic years. Who's ginger cat was it? Last Edited By: Pat Larkin 05/14/08 22:58:54. Edited 1 times.