The austerity Olympics
Subtitle: when the Games came to London in 1948
By: Janie Hampton ; introduction by Sebastian Coe.
Contributors: Coe, Sebastian.
Publisher: Aurum
Published: 2008
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 350
ISBN-13: 9781845133344
Subjects: Olympics -- Economic aspects -- England -- London.
Description: London 2012 Olympics is fast approaching, with new developments and plans causing huge excitement the world over. Yet, this multi-million pound corporate extravaganza could not be further from the realities of the 1948 'Ration Book Olympics' which took place with London a bombed out ruin and Britain in deep economic crisis. The resulting games were not only an amazing achievement in terms of organisation, thrift and invention - being the most successful, inexpensive and unpretentious games of the 20th century - but also something for the world to celebrate following the long years of war and strain.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 329-333) and index.