Wembley-White-City-1908. The Great Olympic Games
Wembley-White-City-1908. The site for the great Olympics.
Wembley White City 1908 Olympic Games were held in the gigantic stadium seating 367,000 people.
Lord Desborough overlooked the construction of this mighty stadium set for hosting the Wembley-White-City-1908, within forty acres of open space.
Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter
Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together
The mammoth stadium emulated the Pantheonaic Stadium built on the banks of the Illissus in Athens three hundred years before Christ. The formidable enterprise resembled the magnificent amphitheatre, that was completed by Herodes Atticus.
Wembley-White-City-1908. Ready for the great Olympic Games
Wembley White City 1908 Olympics catered for every sport in the vast arena including the swimming and diving contests.
The battles were fought in a swimming tank 110 feet long with a deepened centre for the high diving. The 3 metre springboard Olympic title went to A Zurner of Germany and the Plain Diving title was awarded to G Sheldo of the USA.
A Ladies Race
Except…NO Ladies during this time! Two swimming GOLDS for Great Britain went to H. Taylor for the 440 metres freestyle, and F. Holman for the 200 metres backstroke.
Click Picture above https://www.britishpathe.com/video/olympic-games-in-london Enjoy this video clip. The 1908 scene of general sports. See the pool in action with Water Polo 03.53 mins/secs into clip and the 50 metre dash 04.34 mins into the clip.
OUTCOME: The swimming tank would be filled in. White City Stadium was used for a meetings and training venue until 1922 . The stadium became famous for Greyhound racing, and later would experience great athletes, performing to the highest acclaims and breaking and making new world records beyond their wildest dreams.
It was demolished in 1985 and the whole area rebuilt as BBC Television Centre, White City today. Surrounded by Dorando Close West & South leading to S Africa and Australia Close – Wood Lane East – Westway North.
A Further OUTCOME
Revamp…will expand.
Television Centre moved to W1A 2013. One or two of the buildings remainat White City as a media leasing facility, but a phased housing development is progressing over the site.
