Editing 1908 Summer Olympics

{{Short description|Multi-sport event held in London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox Olympic games|1908|Summer|Olympics|
| image      = Olympic games 1908 London.jpg
| image_size = 165
| caption    = Programme for the 1908 Summer Olympics
| host_city  = [[London]], England<br/>{{Coord|51.51362|N|0.22740|W|region:GB-HMF_source:enwiki-osgb36(TQ231809)|display=it}}
| nations    = 22
| athletes   = 2,008 (1,971 men, 37 women)
| events     = 110 in 22 [[Olympic sports|sports]] (25 disciplines)
| opening    = 27 April 1908
| closing    = 31 October 1908
| opened_by  = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|King]] [[Edward VII]]<ref>{{cite press release |title=Factsheet - Opening Ceremony of the Games of the Olympiad|url=https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf|url-status=live |publisher=International Olympic Committee|date=13 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160814215458/https://stillmed.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/Opening_ceremony_of_the_Games_of_the_Olympiad.pdf |archive-date=14 August 2016|access-date=22 December 2018}}</ref>
| stadium    = [[White City Stadium]]
| prev       = [[1904 Summer Olympics|St. Louis 1904]]
| next       = [[1912 Summer Olympics|Stockholm 1912]] 
}}

The '''1908 Summer Olympics''' (officially the '''Games of the IV Olympiad''' and also known as '''London 1908''') were an [[International sport|international]] [[multi-sport event]] held in [[London]], England, from 27&nbsp;April to 31&nbsp;October 1908.<ref name=athletes_number>{{cite web|title=The Olympic Summer Games Factsheet|url=http://www.olympic.org/Documents/Reference_documents_Factsheets/The_Olympic_Summer_Games.pdf|publisher=International Olympic Committee|access-date=5 August 2012}}</ref> The 1908 Games were originally scheduled to be held in [[Rome]], but were relocated on financial grounds following the violent eruption of [[Mount Vesuvius#Eruptions in the 20th century|Mount Vesuvius in 1906]], which claimed over 100 lives; Rome eventually hosted the Games in [[1960 Summer Olympics|1960]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://giochiolimpiciparalimpici.wordpress.com/2016/11/22/londra-1908-le-prime-olimpiadi-inglesi-e-dorando-pietri/|title=Londra 1908: le prime Olimpiadi inglesi e Dorando Pietri|date=22 November 2016 |language=it|quote=Siamo nel 1901 quando il CIO si riunisce per decidere chi sarà la città ad ospitare la quarta edizione Olimpica. A contendersi questo onore ci furono Roma e Berlino, e ne uscì vincitrice la prima. Purtroppo, però, la nostra città italiana dovette ritirarsi qualche anno prima dei Giochi a causa dell’eruzione del Vesuvio|publisher=giochiolimpiciparalimpici.wordpress.com|access-date=22 March 2018}}</ref> 

These were the fourth chronological modern [[Summer Olympics]] in keeping with the now-accepted four-year cycle as opposed to the alternate four-year cycle of the proposed [[Intercalated Games]]. The [[President of the International Olympic Committee|IOC president]] for these Games was [[Pierre de Coubertin|Baron Pierre de Coubertin]]. 

Lasting a total of 187 days (six months and four days), these were the longest Games in modern Olympics history.

== Background ==
There were four bids for the 1908 Summer Olympics. [[Rome]] was selected ahead of [[London]], [[Berlin]] and [[Milan]]. The selection was made at the 6th IOC Session in London in 1904.<ref name=votes>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml |title=Past Olympic Host City Election Results |publisher=[[GamesBids]] |access-date=17 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124022022/http://www.gamesbids.com/eng/past.html |archive-date=24 January 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Italy|Italian]] authorities were preparing to stage the games when [[Mount Vesuvius]] erupted on 7 April 1906, devastating the city of [[Naples]]. Funds were diverted to the reconstruction of Naples, so a new host country was required. London was selected for the first time to hold the Games, which were held at [[White City, London|White City]] alongside the [[Franco-British Exhibition]], at the time the more noteworthy event.

The [[White City Stadium]], built in short time for the Games, held 68,000 people, with full crowds turning up to watch the events. The stadium track was three laps to the mile (536.448 metres per lap), as the current standard of 400 metres did not exist until 1962, with a pool (for swimming and diving events) and platforms (for wrestling and gymnastics) in the centre field.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mallon |first1=Bill |last2=Buchanan |first2=Ian |url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll16/id/16 |title=The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary |via=[[LA84 Foundation]] |year=2000 |page=5 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-0-7864-0598-5}}</ref>

The distance from the start of the [[Marathon (sport)|marathon]] to the finish at the stadium was established at these Games: the original distance of 25 miles was changed to 26 miles so the marathon could start at [[Windsor Castle]] and then changed again at the request of [[Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood|Princess Mary]] so the start would be beneath the windows of the Royal Nursery.<ref name="The modern Olympics: an overview">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/2.720/first-appearance-for-flags-at-olympic-opening-ceremony-1.770576 |title =  First appearance for flags at Olympic opening ceremony |access-date = 30 June 2008| publisher=[[CBC Sports]] | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603133905/http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/history/story/2008/04/29/f-olympics-1908.html| archive-date= 3 June 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref> To ensure that the race would finish in front of the King, the finish line was moved by British officials who "felt compelled to restore the importance of the monarchy." As a result of these changes, the marathon covered a distance of 26 miles and 385 yards (42.195&nbsp;km), which became the standard length starting with the [[1924 Summer Olympics]].<ref>Rhonda Jolly (3 June 2008). {{cite web|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RP/2007-08/08rp32.pdf |title=The modern Olympics: an overview |access-date=30 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318000330/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/RP/2007-08/08rp32.pdf |archive-date=18 March 2009 }}. Department of Parliamentary Services. p. 9.</ref>

== The Games ==
There were controversies at the games. On the opening day, following the practice introduced at the [[1906 Summer Olympics|Intercalated Games of 1906]], teams paraded behind [[national flag]]s. However, the arrangement caused complications:

* Since [[Finland]] was part of the [[Russian Empire]], members of the Finnish team were expected to march under the [[Russia]]n rather than Finnish flag, so many chose to march without a flag at all.
* The [[Sweden|Swedish]] flag had not been displayed above the stadium, so the members of the Swedish team decided not to take part in the ceremony.
* The United States' flag bearer, [[Ralph Rose]], refused to [[Flag dipping|dip]] the flag to [[Edward VII|King-Emperor Edward VII]] in the royal box. His fellow athlete [[Martin Sheridan]] allegedly declared that "this flag dips to no earthly King." The quote is held as an example of Irish and American defiance of the British monarchy, though its [[historicity]] is disputed.<ref name="la84foundation.org">{{cite journal |author=Bill Mallon and Ian Buchanan |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv7n3/JOHv7n3i.pdf |title=To No Earthly King ... |journal=Journal of Olympic History |year=1999 |page=21 |access-date=30 June 2008 |archive-date=9 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080909224103/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv7n3/JOHv7n3i.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/06/24/olympics_history_feature.shtml |title=London Olympics 1908 & 1948 |access-date=30 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010154104/http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2005/06/24/olympics_history_feature.shtml |archive-date=10 October 2006 }}. BBC (24 June 2005).</ref>

=== Events ===
The 1908 Olympics also prompted establishment of standard rules for sports, and selection of judges from different countries rather than just the host. One reason was the 400 metre race, in which a US runner, [[John Carpenter (athlete)|John Carpenter]], was accused by the British officials of interfering with a British runner. Part of the problem was the different definition of interference under British and international rules (the events were held under British rules by the decision of the Organising Committee). The officials decided to disqualify Carpenter and ordered a second final race without him. British [[Wyndham Halswelle|Halswelle]] was to face the other two finalists. These athletes, [[William Robbins (athlete)|William Robbins]] and [[John Taylor (relay runner)|John Taylor]], were both Americans and decided not to participate in the repeat of the final to protest against the judges' decision. Halswelle was thus the only medallist in the 400 metres.

[[File:Dorando Pietri 1908.jpg|thumb|Dorando Pietri finishes the marathon.]]

<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[File:2008£2100thOlympiad.jpg|thumb|100th anniversary of the 1908 Games, commemorated on a 2008 [[British two pound coin|£2 coin]].]] -->
[[File:1908 Olympics wax duel field.png|thumb|Original caption: "One of the most curious contests at the Olympic Games is the duelling with wax bullets. The combatants are as elaborately protected as a German student duellist, and even the revolver has a large hand-guard. The helmet has a plate-glass window."]]

The most famous incident of the games came at the end of the marathon. [[Dorando Pietri]], Italy, began his race at a rather slow pace, but in the second half of the course began a powerful surge moving him into second position by the {{convert|32|km|0|abbr=on}} mark, 4 minutes behind [[South Africa]]n [[Charles Hefferon]]. When he knew that Hefferon was in crisis, Pietri further increased his pace, overtaking him at the {{convert|39|km|0|abbr=on}} mark.

The effort took its toll and with only two kilometres to go, Pietri began to feel the effects of extreme fatigue and [[dehydration]]. When he entered the stadium, he took the wrong path and when umpires redirected him, he fell down for the first time. He got up with their help, in front of 75,000 spectators.

He fell four more times, and each time the umpires helped him up. In the end, though totally exhausted, he managed to finish the race in first place. Of his total time of 2h 54min 46s, ten minutes were needed for that last 340 metres. Second was American [[Johnny Hayes]]. The American team immediately lodged a complaint against the help Pietri received from the umpires. The complaint was accepted and Pietri was disqualified and removed from the final standings of the race. Since he had not been responsible for his disqualification, [[Alexandra of Denmark|Queen Alexandra]] awarded him a gilded silver cup the next day.

These Games were the first to include winter events, as had originally been proposed for the Games. There were four [[Figure skating at the 1908 Summer Olympics|figure skating]] events, although held on 28 and 29 October, months after most of the other events.

[[Oscar Swahn]] from [[Sweden]], who won the gold medal for [[100 meter running deer|running deer shooting]], became the oldest Olympic champion of all time, and set another age record by being 72 years and 279 days old during his triumph at the [[1920 Summer Olympics]] in [[Antwerp]], [[Belgium]]. One of the more unusual [[Shooting at the 1908 Summer Olympics|shooting events in 1908]] was [[Olympic dueling]]. The discipline, which was an associate event (that is,  not official), was performed by facing opponents wearing protective clothing and masks and firing wax bullets.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sketch: A Journal of Art and Actuality|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=roI4AQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA40|edition=No. 808 Vol LXIII, Sixpence|date=22 July 1908|publisher=Ingram brothers|page=41}}</ref>

American [[John Taylor (relay runner)|John Taylor]] was a member of the winning medley relay team, making him the first African-American athlete to win an Olympic gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/people/1800s/taylorjb.html |title=John Baxter Taylor (1882–1908), V.M.D. 1908 – First African-American to Win an Olympic Gold Medal |access-date=30 June 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204185912/http://www.archives.upenn.edu/histy/people/1800s/taylorjb.html |archive-date=4 February 2008 }}, University of Pennsylvania Archives.</ref> Times for the winning team were United States (3:29.4): William Hamilton, 200 metres (22.0); Nathaniel Cartmell, 200 metres (22.2); John Taylor, 400 metres (49.8); and [[Melvin Sheppard]], 800 metres (1:55.4).<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/reports_frmst.htm Official Olympic Reports] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622162855/http://www.la84foundation.org/5va/reports_frmst.htm |date=22 June 2006 }}. LA84 Foundation. Retrieved on 9 July 2012.</ref> Less than five months after returning from the Olympic Games in London, Taylor died of [[typhoid fever]] on 2 December 1908 at the age of 26.<ref>{{Cite news | issn = 0362-4331 | title = NEGRO RUNNER DEAD.; John B. Taylor, Quarter Miler, Victim of Typhoid Pneumonia. | work = The New York Times | access-date = 2 June 2013 | date = 3 December 1908 | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30915FA3C5517738DDDAA0894DA415B888CF1D3 }}</ref>

The budget of the organising committee showed a cost of [[Pound sterling|£]]15,000; over one-third was labelled "entertainment expense". Donations were the major source of revenue; only 28% of income derived from ticket sales. Total receipts of £21,378 resulted in organisers claiming a profit. Construction of the White City Stadium, which cost the government about £60,000, was not counted.<ref name=Zarnowski>{{cite journal|author-link1=Frank Zarnowski | last = Zarnowski | first = C. Frank |date=Summer 1992 | title = A Look at Olympic Costs | journal = Citius, Altius, Fortius | volume = 1 | issue = 1 | pages = 16–32 |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv1n1/JOHv1n1f.pdf | access-date = 24 March 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080528012143/http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/JOH/JOHv1n1/JOHv1n1f.pdf | archive-date = 28 May 2008 | archive-format = PDF | url-status = dead }}</ref>

== Sports ==
Twenty-two sports, representing 110 events in 25 sporting disciplines, were contested. A golf tournament had also been planned but it was cancelled a few days before it was scheduled to start.<ref>{{cite news |title=Golf {{!}} Olympic competitions Abandoned |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/811203349/ |access-date=27 January 2023 |work=The People |date=31 May 1908 |page=17 |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription}}</ref> Swimming, diving, and water polo are considered three disciplines of the same sport, ''aquatics''. At the time, tug-of-war was part of athletics and the two different [[football]] codes ([[Football (soccer)|association]] and [[Rugby football|rugby (union)]]) were listed together. The International Olympic Committee now considers tug-of-war a separate sport as well as referring to association football as simply "football" and to rugby union as "rugby."<ref name=OldSports>[http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/past/index_uk.asp Olympic Sports of the Past]. Olympic.org. Retrieved on 9 July 2012.</ref> In one of seven cycling events (cycling sprint) no medals were awarded. The sailing program was open for a total of five sailing classes, but actually only four sailing events were contested. The number of events in each discipline is noted in parentheses.

{{Columns-list|colwidth=30em|
*Aquatics
**{{GamesSport|Diving|Events=2|Format=d}}
**{{GamesSport|Swimming|Events=6|Format=d}}
**{{GamesSport|Water polo|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Archery|Events=3|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Athletics|Events=26|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Boxing|Events=5|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Cycling|Events=7|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Fencing|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Figure skating|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Football|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Gymnastics|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Field hockey|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Jeu de paume|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Lacrosse|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Polo|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Rackets|Events=2|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Rowing|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Rugby union|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Sailing|Events=4|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Shooting|Events=15|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Tennis|Events=6|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Tug of war|Events=1|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Water motorsports|Events=3|Format=d}}
*{{GamesSport|Wrestling|Format=d}}
**Wrestling Freestyle <small>(5)</small>
**Wrestling Greco-Roman <small>(4)</small>
}}

[[Cycle polo at the Summer Olympics|Cycle polo]], [[Glima at the Summer Olympics|glima]] and [[Pistol dueling at the Summer Olympics|pistol dueling]] were demonstration sports.

== Venues ==
{{Location map+ |Greater London|alt=Map of London with Olympic venues marked |caption=Map of London with Olympic venues marked |float=right |width=400 |places=
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.415455|long=-0.216701|label={{background color|white|[[All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club|All England Club]]}}|position=bottom|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.512222 |long=-0.229444|label={{lower|{{background color|white|[[Franco-British Exhibition (1908)|Fencing]]}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.466944|long=-0.200833|label={{no break|{{lower|{{background color|white|[[The Hurlingham Club|Hurlingham Club]]}}}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.501|long=-0.10226|label={{background color|white|[[City, University of London|Northampton Institute]]}}|position=right|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.52776|long=-0.166|label={{background color|white|[[Prince's Skating Club]]}}|position=top|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.4875|long=-0.211667|label={{lower|{{no break|{{background color|white|[[Queen's Club]]}}}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.5136|long=-0.2274|label={{no break|{{background color|white|[[White City Stadium]]}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|Greater London|lat=51.5725|long=-0.285556|label={{raise|{{no break|{{background color|white|[[Uxendon Shooting School Club|Uxendon Shooting<br>School Club]]}}}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}}
}}

{{Location map+ |England|alt=Map of Great Britain with Olympic venues marked |caption=Map of [[Great Britain]] with Olympic venues marked |float=right |width=400 |places=
{{location map~|England|lat=51.3153 |long=-0.651|label={{background color|white|[[National Shooting Centre|Bisley Ranges]]}}|position=bottom|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|England|lat=55.970717 |long=-4.911582|label={{background color|white|[[Hunters Quay]]}}|position=bottom|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|England|lat=50.856111|long=-1.3475|label={{raise|{{background color|white|[[Southampton Water]]}}}}|position=left|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|England|lat=50.734196 |long=-1.214811|label={{lower|{{no break|{{background color|white|[[Royal Victoria Yacht Club (England)|Royal Victoria<br>Yacht Club]]}}}}}}|position=right|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|England|lat=51.50737 |long=-0.12766 |label={{background color|white|London}}|position=right|label_size=80}}
{{location map~|England|lat=51.5487|long=-0.8941|label={{background color|white|[[Henley Royal Regatta|Henley]]}}|position=left|label_size=80}}
}}

Thirteen sports venues were used for the 1908 Summer Olympics. The first winter sports took place at Prince's Skating Club in Knightsbridge. White City Stadium served as a precursor to modern stadiums.{{citation needed|date=August 2016}} The figure skating events were not held at the [[1912 Summer Olympics|next Olympics]] in [[Stockholm]], but returned for the [[1920 Summer Olympics|1920 Games in Antwerp]], heralding the [[1924 Winter Olympics|first Winter Olympics]] that took place in [[Chamonix]] in 1924. White City was the main venue for the [[1934 British Empire Games]] (known as the [[Commonwealth Games]] since [[1978 Commonwealth Games|1978]]) and, before its demolition in 1985, also served as a venue for the [[1966 FIFA World Cup]]. The All England Lawn Tennis Club continues to host [[The Championships, Wimbledon|the Wimbledon championships]] and is the only venue of the 1908 Games that was used for the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/wimbledon.php |title=London 2012 > The Games > Venues > Wimbledon |website=London2012.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100916103702/http://www.london2012.com/games/venues/wimbledon.php |archive-date=16 September 2010 |url-status=dead |access-date=29 September 2010}}</ref>

Bisley and Henley served as [[1948 Summer Olympics#Venues|venues in the 1948 Games]] when the Olympics returned to London forty years later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf |title=The Official Report of the 1948 London Olympics |publisher=The Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad |website=la84foundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716035822/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1948/OR1948.pdf |archive-date=16 July 2011 |url-status=dead |access-date=19 October 2010 |pages=43, 47–9}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable"
!width=40%|Venue
!class="unsortable" width=45%|Sports
!width=10%|Capacity
!class="unsortable"| Ref.
|-
|| [[All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club]] || [[Tennis at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Tennis]] ||align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf |title=The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics |publisher=The British Olympic Association |website=la84foundation.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222443/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead |access-date=5 October 2010 |page=209}}</ref>
|-
|| [[National Shooting Centre|Bisley Ranges]], Surrey || [[Shooting at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Shooting]] (pistol/rifle) || align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 254.</ref>
|-
|| [[Franco-British Exhibition (1908)|Franco-British Exhibition Fencing Grounds]], Shepherd's Bush || [[Fencing at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Fencing]] || align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 127.</ref>
|-
|| [[Henley Royal Regatta]], Oxfordshire|| [[Rowing at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Rowing]]|| align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 237.</ref>
|-
|| [[Hunters Quay]], Scotland ||  [[Sailing at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Sailing]] (12 Metre)|| align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 340.</ref>
|-
|| [[The Hurlingham Club]] || [[Polo at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Polo]]|| align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 232.</ref>
|-
|| [[City, University of London|Northampton Institute]], Islington || [[Boxing at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Boxing]] || align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, pp. 107, 296–313.</ref>
|-
|| [[Prince's Skating Club]] || [[Figure skating at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Figure skating]]|| align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 284.</ref>
|-
|| [[Queen's Club]] || [[Jeu de paume at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Jeu de paume]], [[Rackets at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Rackets]] || align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 314.</ref><ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 233.</ref>
|-
||[[Royal Victoria Yacht Club (England)|Royal Victoria Yacht Club]], [[Ryde]] || Sailing  (6, 7, 8 and 15 Metre)|| align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 339.</ref>
|-
|| [[Southampton Water]] || [[Water motorsports at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Water motorsports]] || align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 351.</ref>
|-
|| [[Uxendon Shooting School Club]] || Shooting (shotgun)|| align="right"|Not listed
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, p. 39.</ref>
|-
|| [[White City Stadium]] || [[Archery at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Archery]], [[Athletics at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Athletics]], [[Cycling at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Cycling]] (track), Diving, [[Field hockey at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Field hockey]], [[Football at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Football]], [[Gymnastics at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Gymnastics]], [[Lacrosse at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Lacrosse]], [[Rugby union at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Rugby union]], Swimming, [[Tug of war at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Tug of war]], Water polo (final), [[Wrestling at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Wrestling]]|| align="right"|68,000
| align=center|<ref>The Official Report of the 1908 London Olympics, pp. 32–5, 40.</ref>
|}

== Participating nations ==
[[File:1908 Summer Olympics teams.png|thumb|Participants of the 1908 Games]]
[[File:1908 Summer Olympics numbers of athletes.png |thumb|Number of participating athletes per country]]

The 1908 Games featured athletes representing 22 [[National Olympic Committee]]s. [[Finland]], [[Turkey]] and [[New Zealand]] (as part of the team from [[Australasia]]) made their first appearance at the Olympic Games. The fact that the United Kingdom competed as a single team was upsetting to some Irish competitors, who felt that Ireland should compete on its own, despite being part of the UK at the time. They relied on the precedent set by [[Finland at the 1908 Summer Olympics|Grand Duchy of Finland]], which while being a part of the [[Russian Empire]], competed in London as a separate country.<ref name=officialreport>{{cite book|author=Cook, Theodore Andrea |title=The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report |publisher=[[British Olympic Association]] |location=London |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf |access-date=17 June 2009 |date=May 1909 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222443/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> Fearing an Irish boycott, the authorities changed the name of the team to Great Britain/Ireland, and in two sports, field hockey and polo, Ireland participated as a separate country, winning silver medals in both, although their medals counted towards the UK's tally.<ref>Irish Times, 4 August 2008, article by Kevin Mallon</ref> Irish athletes in the United States were not affected by this controversy, and many Irish immigrants to the United States competed for the [[United States at the Olympics|U.S. Olympic team]] as members of the [[Irish American Athletic Club]]. Members of the Irish American Athletic Club won ten of the U.S. Olympic team's total 23 gold medals, or as many as the nations of [[France]], [[Germany]] and [[Italy]] combined.

Britain had more than a quarter of competitors in their team, with 676, compared to 112 on the American team which placed second in the medal standings.

{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width:100%;"
|-
! Participating [[:Category:Nations at the 1908 Summer Olympics|National Olympic Committees]]
|-
|
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* {{flagIOC|ARG|1908 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIOC|ANZ|1908 Summer|30}}
* {{flagIOC|AUT|1908 Summer|7}}
* {{flagIOC|BEL|1908 Summer|88}}
* {{flagIOC|BOH|1908 Summer|19}}
* {{flagIOC|CAN|1908 Summer|87}}
* {{flagIOC|DEN|1908 Summer|79}}
* {{flagIOC|FIN|1908 Summer|67}}
* {{flagIOC|FRA|1908 Summer|363}}
* {{flagIOC|GER|1908 Summer|81}}
* {{flagIOC|GBR|1908 Summer|676}} '''(host)'''
* {{flagIOC|GRE|1908 Summer|20}}
* {{flagIOC|HUN|1908 Summer|63}}
* {{flagIOC|ITA|1908 Summer|68}}
* {{flagIOC|NED|1908 Summer|113}}
* {{flagIOC|NOR|1908 Summer|69}}
* {{flagIOC|RU1|1908 Summer|6}}
* {{flagIOC|RSA|1908 Summer|14}}
* {{flagIOC|SWE|1908 Summer|168}}
* {{flagIOC|SUI|1908 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIOC|TUR|1908 Summer|1}}
* {{flagIOC|USA|1908 Summer|112}}
{{div col end}}
|}

=== Number of athletes by National Olympic Committees ===
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed sortable" style="border:0;"
|-
! Country
! Athletes
|-
| {{flagIOC|GBR|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 676
|-
| {{flagIOC|FRA|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 363
|-
| {{flagIOC|SWE|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 168
|-
| {{flagIOC|NED|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 113
|-
| {{flagIOC|USA|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 112
|-
| {{flagIOC|BEL|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 88
|-
| {{flagIOC|CAN|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 87
|-
| {{flagIOC|DEN|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 81
|-
| {{flagIOC|GER|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 81
|-
| {{flagIOC|NOR|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 69
|-
| {{flagIOC|ITA|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 68
|-
| {{flagIOC|FIN|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 67
|-
| {{flagIOC|HUN|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 63
|-
| {{flagIOC|ANZ|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 32
|-
| {{flagIOC|GRE|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 20
|-
| {{flagIOC|BOH|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 19
|-
| {{flagIOC|RSA|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 14
|-
| {{flagIOC|AUT|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 7
|-
| {{flagIOC|RU1|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 6
|-
| {{flagIOC|ARG|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 1
|-
| {{flagIOC|SUI|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 1
|-
| {{flagIOC|TUR|1908 Summer}} ||align=center| 1
|- class="sortbottom"
|style="text-align:right; border:0px; background:#fff;"| '''Total''' ||style="text-align:center; border:0px; background:#fff;"| '''2,008'''
|-
|}

== Medal count ==
{{Main article|1908 Summer Olympics medal table}}
[[File:1908 Olympic medal.jpg|thumb|The medal of the 1908 British Olympic Council]]

These are the top ten nations that won medals at the 1908 Games.

{{Medals table
 | caption        = 
 | host           = GBR
 | show_limit     = 
 | remaining_text = 
 | flag_template  = flagIOCteam
 | event          = 1908 Summer
 | team           = 
 | gold_GBR = 56 | silver_GBR = 51 | bronze_GBR = 39 | host_GBR = yes 
 | gold_USA = 23 | silver_USA = 12 | bronze_USA = 12
 | gold_SWE = 8 | silver_SWE = 6 | bronze_SWE = 11
 | gold_FRA = 5 | silver_FRA = 5 | bronze_FRA = 9
 | gold_GER = 3 | silver_GER = 5 | bronze_GER = 5
 | gold_HUN = 3 | silver_HUN = 4 | bronze_HUN = 2
 | gold_CAN = 3 | silver_CAN = 3 | bronze_CAN = 10
 | gold_NOR = 2 | silver_NOR = 3 | bronze_NOR = 3
 | gold_ITA = 2 | silver_ITA = 2 | bronze_ITA = 0
 | gold_BEL = 1 | silver_BEL = 5 | bronze_BEL = 2
}}

== See also ==
{{Portal|United Kingdom|London|Sports}}
{{IOC seealso|games=1908 Summer Olympics }}
* [[History of Shepherd's Bush]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* {{IOC games|games=1908 Summer Olympics }}
* [https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/archives/from-the-parliamentary-collections/parliament-and-the-olympics/northcliffeblumenfeldletter/ Parliament & the 1908 Olympics - UK Parliament Living Heritage]
* {{cite book|author=Cook, Theodore Andrea |title=The Fourth Olympiad London 1908 Official Report |publisher=[[British Olympic Association]] |location=London |url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf |access-date=8 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080528012144/http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1908/1908.pdf |archive-date=28 May 2008 |url-status=dead |date=May 1909 }}
* {{cite book |author=Mallon, Bill |author2=Buchanan, Ian |title=The 1908 Olympic Games: Results for All Competitors in All Events, with Commentary |publisher=McFarland |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-7864-0598-5 |chapter=Background |chapter-url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/Mallon/1908.pdf |access-date=8 May 2008 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/resultsofearlymo00mall_0 }}
* {{cite book |author=Jenkins, Rebecca |title=The First London Olympics: 1908 |publisher=Piatkus Books |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7499-5168-9}}
* [http://www.britishpathe.com/video/olympic-games-in-london/ Video footage of the 1908 Summer Olympics]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040803210923/http://www.la21.org.uk/whitecity/stadium.html White City Stadium/BBC radio]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080513051243/http://www.russelljames.co.uk/rjolympics.htm ''The London Olympics'' by Russell James]

{{S-start}}
{{s-sports|soly}}
{{s-bef|before=[[1904 Summer Olympics|St. Louis]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=IV Olympiad<br/>[[London]]|years=1908}}
{{s-aft|after=[[1912 Summer Olympics|Stockholm]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{Olympic Games}}
{{Nations at the 1908 Summer Olympics}}
{{EventsAt1908SummerOlympics}}
{{1908 Summer Olympics venues}}
{{London history}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1908 Summer Olympics| ]]
[[Category:1908 in British sport|Olympic Games]]
[[Category:1908 in multi-sport events|Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1908 in sport in London|Olympic Games]]
[[Category:20th century in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham]]
[[Category:Summer Olympics in London]]
[[Category:Summer Olympics by year]]
[[Category:Olympic Games in the United Kingdom]]