Lebanon at the 1948 Summer Olympics

Last updated

Lebanon at the
1948 Summer Olympics
Flag of Lebanon.svg
IOC code LIB
NOC Lebanese Olympic Committee
Website www.lebolymp.org
in London
Competitors8 in 3 sports
Medals
Gold
0
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
0
Summer Olympics appearances (overview)

The West Asian nation of Lebanon competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom, which was held from 29 July to 14 August 1948. This was the country's first appearance in the Summer Olympic Games. The Lebanese delegation was made up of eight male competitors: boxer Michel Ghaoui, shooters Khalil Hilmi and Salem Salam, and wrestlers Bechara Abou Rejalie, Charif Damage, Ibrahim Mahgoub, Abdallah Sidani, and Safi Taha. The delegation failed to win any medals.

Contents

Background

While under French administration during the 1920s, Greater Lebanon saw the formation of numerous clubs form in sports such as football, swimming, skiing, combat sports, and athletics. The first federations to organize these clubs were founded in 1933. [1] Prior to Lebanon's first appearance in a Summer Olympic Games, an official Lebanese delegation of Lebanese Football Association representatives, led by association president Pierre Gemayel, attended the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. There, Gemayel was influenced by the German people's nationalism and discipline. The visit helped influence him to establish the right-wing Kataeb Party. [2]

The Republic of Lebanon declared independence from France on 22 November 1943, and officially gained it on 24 October 1945. One year later, on 28 December 1946, the Lebanese Olympic Committee was founded by national decree 1350 and was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee on 22 November 1947. [3] Following advice from Greek IOC representative Angelo Bolanaki, Sheik Gabriel Gemayel, of the Gemayel family, was the first president of the Committee. [4] Following recognition, Lebanon competed in its first ever Olympic Games during the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, from 30 January to 8 February 1948. [5] Five months later, Lebanon sent a delegation of eight men to represent the nation for the 1948 Summer Games in London. [6]

Boxing

Michel Ghaoui was Lebanon's sole boxing representative for the 1948 Games. Despite winning the 1947 national boxing championship in the bantamweight division, [7] he boxed in the featherweight competition for the Olympics. On 7 August, Ghaoui faced Chilean Manuel Videla in the preliminary round of 32 match. Ghaoui lost the bout by decision. [8]

AthleteEventRound of 32Round of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal
Opposition
Result		Opposition
Result		Opposition
Result		Opposition
Result		Opposition
Result		Rank
Michel Ghaoui Featherweight Flag of Chile.svg  Videla  (CHI)
Lby decision		Did not advance17

Shooting

The Games' shooting events took place at the Bisley Rifle Range. Olympic Modern Pentathlon at Bisley for Pistol Shooting, Olympic Games, London, 1948. (7649954444).jpg
The Games' shooting events took place at the Bisley Rifle Range.

Lebanon sent two shooters to the 1948 Games. Khalil Hilmi competed in the Games' two pistol events. In the 50 metre pistol event on 3 August, Hilmi scored 56 points in the first round, 56 in the second, 61 in the third, 58 in the fourth, 47 in the fifth, and 53 in the sixth. With 331 total points, Hilmi ranked last in the 50-person field. He finished 139 points behind the next-ranked shooter, Enrique Tejeda of Cuba. [9] The following day, Hilmi competed in the 25 metre rapid fire pistol event, Hilmi hit 53 of the 60 targets and finished with a score of 228 in the first round and 195 in the second, for a total of 423. This mark put him in 57th place in a field of 59. [10]

Salem Salam competed in the 50 metre rifle, prone event, on 3 August. He finished with 94 points in the first round, 93 in the second, 89 in the third, 87 in the fourth, 87 in the fifth, and 94 in the sixth. Finishing with 544 points, he finished 70th in a field of 71, 33 points ahead of last-ranked Samad Mollazal of Iran. [11]

AthleteEventFinal
PointsRank
Khalil Hilmi 25 metre rapid fire pistol 42357
50 metre pistol 33150
Salem Salam 50 metre rifle, prone 54470

Wrestling

Five wrestlers competed for Lebanon during the 1948 Games. Bechara Abou Rejalie was the sole freestyle wrestler for the country, competing in the lightweight competition. In the first round on 29 July, Rejalie wrestled Kim Seog-yeong of South Korea. Rejalie retired during the match and did not return to the competition, placing him tied for 17th with José Luis Pérez of Mexico, who also withdrew after his loss. [12]

There were four Greco-Roman wrestlers for Lebanon. Abdallah Sidani competed in the flyweight competition. On 3 August, during the first round, he lost to Edmond Faure of France by decision, though Sidani was only marked with two points due to a quality technical performance. However, during the second round on 4 August, he was pinned by Manuel Varela of Argentina in the ninth minute, scoring three additional points. This brought him to the maximum of five points, eliminating him. Sidani ranked 10th in the competition. [13]

In the featherweight contest, Safi Taha quickly pinned Raymond Strasser of Luxembourg during the first round on 3 August. Taking only 1 minute and 46 seconds, Taha's bout was the quickest of that round. His success continued in round two the following day, when he defeated Antoine Merle of France by decision, adding a point to his total. During the third round on 5 August, however, Taha was pinned by Georg Weidner of Austria in the eleventh minute, docking him three points. That same day, a loss to Luigi Campanella of Italy by decision in the fourth round saw Taha total seven points, eliminating him from the competition and placing him in sixth, tied with three other wrestlers: El-Sayed Mohamed Kandil of Egypt, Egil Solsvik of Norway, and Erkki Talosela of Finland. [14] Two years later, Taha would capture silver in the Greco-Roman featherweight division of the 1950 World Wrestling Championships. [15]

Charif Damage wrestled in the lightweight competion, starting with a win in the eleventh minute by pin against Luis Rosado of Argentina in the first round on 3 August. In the second round on 4 August, Damage defeated Abraham Kurland of Denmark by decision, adding a point to his total. On 5 August, during the third round, Damage again won by decision, defeating Ahmet Şenol of Turkey, accumulating another point by doing so. Later that day, during the fourth round, Damage once again won by decision against Georgios Petmezas of Greece. With that win, Damage totaled three points going into the fifth round on 6 August, being among the last four wrestlers still remaining in the tournament. However, Damage lost his matchup against Aage Eriksen of Norway by decision, putting his point total at six. While this should have eliminated him, Károly Ferencz of Hungary also lost his match, placing him at six points as well, prompting a tie-breaker sixth round match to determine who the bronze medal winner would be. The match ended with Damage losing to Ferencz by decision, though Damage was marked with only two points due to his technical performance. By losing, Damage was off the podium, finishing in fourth place. [16]

In the light heavyweight division, Ibrahim Mahgoub represented Lebanon. In the first round on 3 August, Mahgoub lost to Erling Stuer Lauridsen of Denmark by decision, costing him three points. [17] Prior to the second round on 4 August, Maghoub failed to weigh in for his bout, [18] disqualifying him from the contest and placing him in 11th, tied with three other wrestlers who lost both of their first two bouts: Albin Dannacher of Switzerland, Athanasios Kambaflis of Greece, and Adolfo Ramírez of Argentina. [17]

Key:

AthleteEventRound 1Round 2Round 3Round 4Round 5Round 6Rank
Bechara Abou Rejalie Freestyle lightweight Flag of South Korea (1945-1948).svg  Kim  (KOR)
LVA		Did not advance16
Abdallah Sidani Greco-Roman flyweight Flag of France.svg  Faure  (FRA)
L 1-2PP		Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Varela  (ARG)
LVT		Did not advance10
Safi Taha Greco-Roman featherweight Flag of Luxembourg.svg  Strasser  (LUX)
WVT		Flag of France.svg  Merle  (FRA)
W 3–0PO		Flag of Austria.svg  Weidner  (AUT)
LVT		Flag of Italy.svg  Campanella  (ITA)
L 0-3PO		Did not advance6
Charif Damage Greco-Roman lightweight Flag of Argentina (1861-2010).svg  Rosado  (ARG)
WVT		Flag of Denmark.svg  Kurland  (DEN)
W 3-0PO		Flag of Turkey.svg  Şenol  (TUR)
W 3-0PO		Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg  Petmezas  (GRE)
W 3-0PO		Flag of Norway.svg  Eriksen  (NOR)
L 0-3PO		Flag of Hungary (1946-1949, 1956-1957).svg  Ferencz  (HUN)
L 1-2PP		4
Ibrahim Mahgoub Greco-Roman light heavyweight Flag of Denmark.svg  Lauridsen  (DEN)
L 0-3PO		Did not advance11

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanon at the 1952 Summer Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

Lebanon competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. Nine competitors, all men, took part in eight events in four sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lebanon at the 1948 Winter Olympics</span> Sporting event delegation

The West Asian country of Lebanon competed in the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, which was held from 30 January to 8 February 1948. This was Lebanon's first appearance in a Winter Olympic Games, as well as their first appearance in any Olympic Games. The delegation sent two male alpine skiiers: Ibrahim Geagea and Munir Itani. The delegation failed to win any medals during these Games.

Mithat Bayrak was a Turkish sports wrestler and trainer, who won two consecutive gold medals in the Welterweight class of Men's Greco-Roman Wrestling at the 1956 Olympics and 1960 Olympics.

The men's Greco-Roman featherweight was one of thirteen wrestling events held as part of the wrestling at the 1928 Summer Olympics programme. The competition was held from August 2 to 5, and featured 20 wrestlers from 20 nations. Featherweight was the second-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 58 to 62 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman bantamweight competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place from 3 August to 6 August at the Empress Hall, Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Nations were limited to one competitor. Bantamweight is the second-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 52 to 57 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman featherweight competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place from 3 August to 6 August at the Empress Hall, Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman lightweight competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place from 3 August to 6 August at the Empress Hall, Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Nations were limited to one competitor. Lightweight was the fourth-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 62 to 67 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman heavyweight competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place from 3 to 6 August at the Empress Hall, Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Nations were limited to one competitor. Heavyweight was the heaviest category, including wrestlers weighing over 87 kilograms (191.8 lb).

The men's freestyle featherweight competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place from 29 July to 31 July at the Empress Hall, Earls Court Exhibition Centre. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman featherweight competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place from 24 July to 27 July at Messuhalli. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman welterweight competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place from 24 July to 27 July at Messuhalli. Nations were limited to one competitor. Welterweight was the fourth-heaviest category, including wrestlers weighing 67 to 73 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman middleweight competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place from 24 July to 27 July at Messuhalli. Nations were limited to one competitor. Middleweight was the third-heaviest category, including wrestlers weighing 73 to 79 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman heavyweight competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place from 24 July to 27 July at Messuhalli. Nations were limited to one competitor. Heavyweight was the heaviest category, including wrestlers weighing over 87 kilograms (191.8 lb).

The men's freestyle featherweight competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place from 20 July to 23 July at Messuhalli. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's Greco-Roman featherweight</span> Wrestling at the Olympics

The men's Greco-Roman featherweight competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place from 3 December to 6 December at the Royal Exhibition Building. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's freestyle featherweight competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place from 28 November to 1 December at the Royal Exhibition Building. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman featherweight competition at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome took place from 26 to 31 August at the Basilica of Maxentius. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's freestyle featherweight competition at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome took place from 1 to 6 September at the Basilica of Maxentius. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 62 kilograms.

The men's Greco-Roman featherweight competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place from 16 to 19 October at the Komazawa Gymnasium. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 63 kilograms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wrestling at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle featherweight</span> Wrestling at the Olympics

The men's freestyle featherweight competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo took place from 11 to 14 October at the Komazawa Gymnasium. Nations were limited to one competitor. Featherweight was the third-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 57 to 63 kilograms.

References

  1. ↑ Haddad, Makram (20 July 2024). "From Saint-Moritz to Paris: The Tumultuous Journey of Lebanon to the Olympic Games". This is Beirut. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  2. ↑ Entelis, John Pierre (1974). Pluralism and Party Transformation in Lebanon: Al-Kataʼib, 1936-1970. Brill Publishers. pp. 45–46. ISBN   9004039112.
  3. ↑ "About Us". Lebanese Olympic Committee. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  4. ↑ Buchanan, Ian; Lyberg, Wolf (2012). "The Biographies of all IOC Members: Part XI". Journal of Olympic History. 2: 72. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
  5. ↑ Comité Olympique Suisse (January 1951). Rapport Général sur les Ves Jeux Olympiques d'hiver St-Moritz 1948 (PDF) (in French). Lausanne: H. Jaunin. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
  6. ↑ "Lebanon at the 1948 London Summer Games". sports-reference.com. Archived from the original on 17 April 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2015.
  7. ↑ Tchir, Paul. "Missing Data on Lebanese Olympians". OlympStats. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  8. ↑ "Featherweight (≤58 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Free Pistol, 50 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  10. ↑ "Rapid-Fire Pistol, 25 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  11. ↑ "Small-Bore Rifle, Prone, 50 metres, Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "Lightweight, Freestyle (≤67 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  13. ↑ "Flyweight, Greco-Roman (≤52 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  14. ↑ "Featherweight, Greco-Roman (≤62 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  15. ↑ "World Championship: Greco-Roman Seniors: 1950-03-20 Stockholm (SWE)". United World Wrestling. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  16. ↑ "Lightweight, Greco-Roman (≤67 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  17. 1 2 "Light-Heavyweight, Greco-Roman (≤87 kilograms), Men". Olympedia. Retrieved 28 December 2024.
  18. ↑ The Official Report of the Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad (PDF). London: The Organising Committee for the XIV Olympiad. 1948. p. 503. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 29 December 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.