Boxing star says 1948 Olympics were knockout

[Fiona]

TO say staging the 2012 Olympics in Stratford will cost big bucks is something of an understatement. Estimates put the initial budget at £2.4 billion.

So it is difficult to imagine what it was like when this country last hosted the Games 58 years ago. Gathering such a vast sum to pay for a world-class event was inconceivable - Great Britain was just three years into recovery from the Second World War, and a mess.

"The country was flattened, bankrupt," recalls London 1948 competitor and Manor Park resident Ron Cooper. "They had to pay for our clothes with ration coupons."

Spry Ron, who turned 78 last month, was a 20-year-old boxing medal hopeful on the cusp of a professional career when he stood alongside team GB in the Olympic opening ceremony at White City on July 29, 1948.

It is clear from the way Ron enthuses about his experience all those years ago - and the way he still treasures his pristine condition commemorative blazer and tie - that, despite the prevailing austerity, 1948 was "out of this world".

It could perhaps be seen as a minor miracle that 4,099 competitors from 57 nations came to London that summer to compete in 136 events across 17 different sports.

Somehow, our dour, post-war capital managed to beat off Lausanne in Switzerland, plus the US cities of Baltimore, Los Angeles, Minneapolis and Philadelphia for the honour.

Venues were hastily prepared, with athletes housed in schools and barracks - a sophisticated Olympic Village for competitors simply out of the question. Incredibly, these Games were held five years before the end of rationing of all commodities and essentials in the UK.

Though athletes were given top rations, other nations found the situation difficult - Argentina brought 100 tonnes of meat with them, the Dutch contributed extra fresh fruit and vegetables, and Iceland brought frozen mutton.

"We didn't even have enough food to feed everyone," said an incredulous Ron as he told the Recorder of the "ration book" Olympics.

newhamrecorder.co.uk