Olympic Games 1948

 Olympic Games Volunteers in 1948

Some of you will know that MaC was a Gamesmaker at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. MaC and his wife Julie were also volunteers at the Paralympic Games.

70,000 Gamesmakers helped athletes, officials, organisers and members of the public to run and to enjoy the games. I was one of 200 members of the Olympic Park Mobility team, looking after mobility aids and transporting people around the park. There are lots of stories I could tell about the experiences of the summer of 2012 (between the 2 games we were part of the support team at the Essex International Jamboree). 

But that's not what this story is about....

Do you know who did the same job at the 1948 Olympic Games?

 

 

 

Euston Station was decorated to welcome visitors. 

 

The Opening Ceremony was much more simple than the massive show in 2012.

 

Scouts led the teams into the arena.

 

 It wasa all too much for one Scout.

 

The Ambulance team were soon on the scene.

 

 

 

Finally the flame was lit.

 

Meanwhile in Torquay the Sea Scouts were helping with the sailing.

County Administrator Mary McAlister provided some more information in the form of a report from Tony Smythers, a Sea Scout from 2nd Ryde, who was one of those who helped with the 1948 Olympic sailing at Torquay.

 

 

(Ed: Read the transcription, below - Thanks Mary) 

Two hundred Sea Scouts from all parts of the country helped to run the sailing events at Torquay, and being one of the lucky ones  I have to write this small log. A party of 40 Sea Scouts did all the ferrying in the harbour and we were trusted out alone on the precious racing yachts when they were being moved to fresh moorings.

The Sea Scout launch flew the official Olympic flag and carried the official International Games Committee Judges during the races. The many other jobs we carried out included the controlling of the processions at the opening and closing ceremonies and march pasts.

At the opening ceremony the Olympic torch relayed from Wembley arrived and the Olympic flame was lit, soon after Peter Scott, son of the explorer took the Oath and declared the games open.

The races for every class started each day at 11am. I was in the Starboard watch and had to be on duty at 14.00 – 19.00 every other day. I also had to help rescues on Admiralty M.L.s. The only Firefly I helped to rescue was the Brazilian who overturned when turning a buoy.