1948 Summer Olympics torch relay

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Host cityLondon, United Kingdom
Countries visitedGreece, Italy, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, England
Distance3,160 km
Torch bearers1,688
Start date17 July 1948
End date29 July 1948
Torch designerRalph Lavers

The 1948 Summer Olympics torch relay was run from 17 July until 29 July 1948, prior to the 1948 Summer Olympics, held in London, United Kingdom. The relay was nicknamed the "relay of peace".[1] It was only the second occasion that a torch relay was held for the Olympics; the first was at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

There were three types of torches designed for use on the relay: a standard

butane gas torch used on board HMS Whitesand Bay, and a final torch used to enter Empire Stadium that was made of stainless steel and powered by a magnesium
candle.

The route itself was initially designed to be a direct one from Olympia to Wembley, taking in Italy, Switzerland and France. Belgium and Luxembourg were added to the route after those countries requested it. It was expected that the Greek part of the relay would be 750 kilometres (470 mi), but was reduced to 35 kilometres (22 mi) due to concerns over security. After the 12-day journey, the torch arrived at the Empire Stadium only thirty seconds later than expected.

Background

London having hosted the 1908 Summer Olympics, the 1948 event was only the second Games to stage an Olympic torch relay, it being first run at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin.[2] Former British athlete David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter, and the rest of the organising committee for the 1948 Games, agreed to run a torch relay for a second time.[3]

Relay elements

Torch

Each of the torches contained a

Olympic rings.[3] The torches for the Greek leg of the relay were shipped to the Mediterranean aboard HMS Liverpool, along with a purpose-built torch for the leg aboard a Royal Navy vessel from Corfu to Italy.[5]

A differently designed torch was used for the final leg. It was made of stainless steel and was fueled by magnesium in order to ensure that the flame showed up properly during the opening ceremony.[3] It was also designed by Ralph Lavers, with the frame for the torch created by EMI, and the magnesium candle supplied by Wessex Aircraft Engineering. Neither the suppliers nor designer charged a fee for the final torch.[5]

Planned torch route

The Olympic torch relay route for the 1948 Summer Olympics
Key

  *   As planned

Location Distance Stages Torches
Greece 750 kilometres* 300 324
HMS Whitesand Bay 415 kilometres 6
Italy 1,072 kilometres 500 540
Switzerland 261 kilometres 135 144
France (i) 521 kilometres 270 300
Luxembourg 108 kilometres 38 42
Belgium 287 kilometres 108 120
France (ii) 126 kilometres
HMS Bicester 35 kilometres 12
England (Dover - Wembley) 255 kilometres 73 80
England (Wembley - Torquay) 330 kilometres 107 120
Total 3,160 kilometres (1,960 mi) 1531 1688
Source: The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad[6]

Torch route

Vessels that carried the Olympic torch in 1948
HMS Whitesand Bay, which carried the torch from Corfu to Bari, Italy
HMS Bicester, which carried the torch across the English Channel to Dover

While the general negotiation with other countries and the specific route were handled by the Organising Committee for the Games, the detailed organisation was delegated to a subgroup led by F.W. Collins.[7] Due to cost implications, the extensive route conducted by the 1936 Games was ruled out.[4] Instead, the simplest route from Olympia to London was to be used, going by sea to Italy and then run through Switzerland and France. The route was modified only when Luxembourg and Belgium both requested that the torch travel their territories.[5] A longer Greek route was planned, but reduced from an expected 750 kilometres (470 mi) down to 35 kilometres (22 mi) due to concerns over instability in the country and a lack of security.[8]

The torch lighting ceremony took place on 17 July 1948 in

butane gas torch in order to ensure that there was a 48-hour lifespan available for the flame, despite the crossing only being expected to take 22 hours.[5]

The ship dropped the torch off in

South East of England until it arrived at Wembley,[5] where it arrived only thirty seconds late after the entire journey. That delay may have only been in the final few hundred yards of the relay down Olympic Way outside of Empire Stadium as the pressure of the crowds on the torch carrier and their escorts reduced the pace to walking speed. Special celebrations were held at each border crossing, and at Pierre de Coubertin's tomb in Lausanne, Switzerland.[3][8]

It was agreed for a secondary

Olympic Flame to be lit in Torquay during the games, and a secondary torch relay was conducted to take the flame from Wembley south to the coast to Torquay. The arrangements were the same as from Dover to Wembley but in reverse.[9]

Outside Greece, the cities and towns visited by the Olympic flame were the following ones:[10]

Nation Cities and towns
 Italy Bari, Foggia, Pescara, Ancona, Rimini, Bologna, Parma, Piacenza, Milan, Domodossola, the Simplon Pass.
  Switzerland Brig, Martigny, Montreux, Lausanne, Geneva, Perly.
 France St. Julien en Genevois, Belgarde, Nantua, Lons-le-Saulnier, Poligny, Besancon, Vesoul, Epinal, Nancy, Metz, Thionville, Evrange.
 Luxembourg Frisange, Esch, Luxembourg City, Ettelbruck, Wiltz.
 Belgium Bras, Bastogne, Marche, Namur, Brussels, Renaix, Tournai, Hertain.
 France Lille, Armentieres, St. Omer, Calais.
 England,  United Kingdom Dover, Canterbury, Charing, Maidstone, Westerham, Redhill, Reigate, Dorking, Guildford, Bagshot, Ascot, Windsor, Slough, Uxbridge, London.

References

Specific
  1. ^ "A gallery of memorable Olympic torch designs". CBBC Newsround. 10 May 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  2. ^ Nellas, Demetris (11 May 2012). "Olympic flame begins journey to London". The Vancouver Sun. Retrieved 15 May 2012.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Heald, Claire (18 May 2011). "London 2012: The 1948 torch relay on a shoestring". BBC News. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  4. ^ a b Official Report (1948): p. 209
  5. ^ a b c d e Official Report (1948): p. 210
  6. ^ Official Report (1948): p. 212
  7. ^ Official Report (1948): p. 22
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Official Report (1948): p. 217
  9. ^ Official Report (1948): p. 213
  10. OCLC 220789552
    . Retrieved 8 September 2023.
General