The 1948 Summer Olympics were an international multi-sport event held from 29 July to 14 August 1948 in London, United Kingdom. Following a twelve-year hiatus caused by the outbreak of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics held since the 1936 Games in Berlin. The 1940 Olympic Games had been scheduled for Tokyo and then for Helsinki, while the 1944 Olympic Games had been provisionally planned for London. This was the second time London had hosted the Olympic Games, having previously hosted them in 1908, forty years earlier. The Olympics would again return to London 64 years later in 2012, making London the first city to have hosted the games three times, and the only such city until Paris and Los Angeles host their third games in 2024 and 2028, respectively. The 1948 Olympic Games were also the first of two summer Games held under the IOC presidency of Sigfrid Edström.
The 1948 Summer Olympics was an international multi-sport event held from July 29 through August 14, 1948, in London, United Kingdom. It was the first Olympic Games to take place in twelve years, due to the Second World War, with London being chosen as the host city in May 1946. London had previously hosted the 1908 Summer Olympics, and was due to have hosted the event in 1944. A record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men and 385 women, in 19 sport disciplines. Following the Second World War, Germany and Japan remained under military occupation and had not yet formed their National Olympic Committee, and so were not invited. The only major Axis power to take part in the Games was Italy. The Soviet Union was invited to compete, but chose not to send any athletes, sending observers instead to prepare for the 1952 Summer Olympics. Following the threats of a boycott from Arab countries should an Israeli team fly their flag at the opening ceremony, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) excluded Israel from the Games on a technicality.
The Republic of China (ROC) competed as Chinese Taipei at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California for the first time. The change in name was a result of the Nagoya Resolution, adopted by the International Olympic Committee in 1979 after the objections raised in the 1970s by the People's Republic of China (PRC) over the political status of Taiwan. The IOC restrictions over the ROC name led to the ROC boycott of the Summer Games of 1976 and 1980; the PRC boycotted the Olympic Games prior to the adoption of the resolution. The 1984 Summer Games Chinese Taipei team included 31 men and 7 women, taking part in 40 events in 12 sports. In weightlifting, athletes both from Chinese Taipei and the People's Republic of China won medals.
Denmark competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 162 competitors, 144 men and 18 women, took part in 83 events in 17 sports.
Bulgaria competed at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. The nation returned to the Olympic Games after having missed the 1948 Summer Olympics. 63 competitors, 54 men and 9 women, took part in 34 events in 8 sports.
Peru competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 41 competitors, all men, took part in 26 events in 7 sports.
Belgium competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 152 competitors, 132 men and 20 women, took part in 77 events in 17 sports.
Chile competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 54 competitors, 50 men and 4 women, took part in 31 events in 9 sports.
Norway competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 81 competitors, 77 men and 4 women, took part in 50 events in 12 sports.
Austria competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 147 competitors, 115 men and 32 women, took part in 79 events in 17 sports.
Switzerland competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 186 competitors, 178 men and 8 women, took part in 98 events in 19 sports.
Finland competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 129 competitors, 123 men and 6 women, took part in 84 events in 16 sports. As the country hosted the next Olympics in Helsinki, a Finnish segment was performed at the closing ceremony.
Athletes from the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. Ninety competitors—79 men and 11 women—took part in 35 events in 8 sports.
The Union of South Africa competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 35 competitors, 34 men and 1 woman, took part in 34 events in 10 sports.
Brazil competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, United Kingdom. 70 competitors, 59 men and 11 women, took part in 41 events in 11 sports. A Brazilian medal was won for the first time since the country's debut at the 1920 Summer Olympics, with a bronze by the basketball team.
Turkey competed at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England. 58 competitors, 57 men and 1 woman, took part in 42 events in 7 sports.
China, as the Republic of China, competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany. 54 competitors, 52 men and 2 women, took part in 27 events in 7 sports. The team is the inspiration for the 2008 film, Champions.
Iran competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. The nation has competed at every Summer Olympic games since its official debut in 1948 with the exception of the 1980 and 1984 Summer Olympics. The National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran sent the nation's second-largest delegation to the Games, one less than it sent to Beijing. A total of 53 athletes, 45 men and 8 women, competed in 14 sports. This was also the youngest delegation in Iran's Olympic history, with half the team under the age of 25, and many of them are expected to reach their peak in time for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Heavyweight boxer Ali Mazaheri was the nation's flag bearer at the opening ceremony.
Chinese Taipei competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. "Chinese Taipei" was the designated name used by Taiwan to participate in some international organizations and almost all sporting events, including the Olympic Games. Neither the common name "Taiwan" nor the official name "Republic of China" would be used due primarily to opposition from the People's Republic of China. This was the nation's eighth consecutive appearance at the Olympics.
Romania competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, from 27 July to 12 August 2012. This nation has competed at the Summer Olympic Games since its official debut in 1924, missing only two editions, including the 1948 Summer Olympics. Despite being London's third Olympic Games, this is the first time the Romanian team has competed in London. The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee sent a total of 103 athletes to the Games, 54 men and 49 women, to compete in 14 sports.
China (from 1952)
Chinese Taipei (from 1984)
