The 2012 Games will be the third time that the Olympic Games have been hosted by Great Britain.  London hosted the Games of 1908 and 1948 with events taking place in Windsor on both occasions.  Below you will find information on the interesting history of Windsor and the Olympic Games.

The 1908 Games

The 1908 Games were due to be hosted by Rome, however following an eruption of Mount Vesuvius London was selected as a replacement. The Games were held at White City in London between April and October.  Lord Desborough was the organiser for the 1908 Games; he was based at Taplow Court which can be seen today from the Eton Dorney Rowing Lake, venue for the Rowing and Kayaking event at the 2012 Games. Windsor hosted the marathon and the Rowing events at nearby Henley.

The marathon event at the 1908 Games became famous for many reasons:

• Having measured the distance backwards from White City Stadium, the original distance was changed from 25 to 26 miles so the start could be at the castle.
• The start of the marathon was due to be at the Queen Victoria statue just outside the castle entrance but this was changed to the East Terrace so that the public would not impede the start.  This added several hundred yards to the route.
• The distance was changed for a third time so the finish line would be in front of King Edward VII in the stadium at White City.
• The distance ended up being 26 miles, 385 yards and this has been the official marathon length since the 1924 Olympics.

The 1948 or 'Austerity' Games

London had been selected as the host city for the 1944 Games, however these were cancelled due to World War Two.  The Games were based at Wembley Stadium and took place between the 29th of July and the 14th August.  Taking place only three years after the end of the War, the 1948 Games became known as the Austerity Games, due to the ongoing rationing and post-war conditions.  Most countries brought their own food and athletes were housed in army barracks and transported to venues in double decker buses. 

As in 1908, Windsor had its role to play in the Games, firstly in seeing the Olympic Flame come through the town but also in hosting the Road Cycling Race in the Great Park.  The Olympic flame came through Windsor in July, its route followed King’s Road, Sheet Street, High Street, Thames Street and across to Eton High Street where the next hand over was outside Eton College at the ‘burning bush’.

As before, the Rowing events were held at nearby Henley.

Facts & Figures of the 1908 Road Cycling Race:

• It was originally due to be held in Richmond Park but a law was discovered that any activity there at more than 20 miles an hour was prohibited!
• The race was held on Friday 13^th August and was started on Smith’s Lawn by Prince Philip
• The race was held over 17 laps and measured 120 miles (194 kilometres)
• The race started in a torrential downpour which limited the spectators.
• Spectators were allowed to cycle up the Long Walk to the start of the race.
• Competitors suffered over 100 punctures due to the loose gravel on the roads
• The race started at 11am and the winner crossed the line at 4.18pm
• Gold went to Jose Beyaert of France, Silver to Gerrit Voorting of Holland and third to Lode Wouters of Belgium.  Great Britain came 8^th and 16th.

Lord Desborough

Lord Desborough was the organiser for the 1908 Games; he was based at Taplow Court which can be seen today from the Eton Dorney Rowing Lake.  As well as organising the Games, his list of sporting accomplishments is staggering.

• Rowed for Oxford in the University boat race of 1877 which was dead heat. 
• A double blue in rowing and running.
• President of both Oxford Boat Club and Athletic Club. 
• Master of University draghounds.
• Rowed across the English Channel. 
• Climbed the Matterhorn by 3 different routes. 
• Won the national punting championship.
• Swan twice across bottom of Niagara Falls.
• Represented his country at fencing in the unofficial 1906 Olympics winning a silver medal.

As well as his sporting prowess, Lord Desborough was a successful politician. He was mayor of Maidenhead from 1895-97, an MP at just 25 and was awarded a peerage in 1905 (at one point serving on 115 different committees).