Download Comparing the London 1948 and 2012 Olympic Games

Australia and the Olympic Games
London Olympics 1948 and 2012
The Games
Comparing the London 1948 and 2012 Olympic Games
As a group activity learners could compare and contrast aspects of the London Olympics in 1948 as
against the Olympics of 2012. Learners can make conclusions on aspects such as:
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The venues and preparations
The role of the media
Problems and issues faced in meeting the aims of the Games
Develop a presentation using ICT forms such as:
Design a web site
Using Microsoft Word or Adobe Fireworks or Adobe Dreamweaver design a webpage
Or
A Powerpoint and then produce a Flash presentation
ICT Presentation guide: To take this one step further you can turn your PowerPoint into a Flash
presentation with Adobe Presenter http://lrrpublic.cli.det.nsw.edu.au/lrrSecure/Sites/LRRView/9224/index.htm?Signature=(7521ceebdb9c-4b10-8a5b-5d72c9e7a04f)
Other resources
The Last Time - London 1948
http://www.sportinglife.com/london2012/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=others/05/07/06/man
ual_144423.html
What comparisons are made in this article between the 1948 Olympic Games and the preparations
for the 2012 London Olympics?
Review the following document - London 1948 and 2012 – political and financial features
© Australian Olympic Committee
Australia and the Olympic Games
London Olympics 1948 and 2012
The Games
London 1948 and 2012 – political and financial features
British society in 2010 is probably best described as dazed and confused. It is dazed by the
challenges of public welfare provision, green concerns, coalition government and the gap between
rich and poor in a creaking economy. Similarly, it feels confused by changing demographics and an
emerging disconnect between different groups in our population. As in 1948, the current level of
political and financial crisis is particularly unsettling and a constant theme in the run up to the
Olympic Games. Each time Britain has attempted to deliver an Olympic Games it has been necessary
to build a unique economic model in order to meet the global and domestic economic demands of
the day.
In 1948 public net debt was in or around 200% of our (Britain’s) GDP, whereas today we are
currently expecting it to peak at around 72%. This statistic does come with a health warning, given
that our economy has also spent the majority of the last 60 years with a core focus on GDP growth.
While not as high as in 1948, 72% is the highest percentage Britain has sustained since 1969 and
certainly not to be underestimated in the context of faltering global confidence in the British pound.
Unemployment, too, is raising its head again. The 2010 General Election was undeniably fought on
an economic theme - the then Chancellor and Shadow Chancellors debating as regularly as potential
Prime Ministers. Despite this, the lack of firm policy for navigating the frightening balance of
payments and double dip recession continue to concern big business Way beyond the election itself
as the coalition government attempts to get to grips with making their economic cuts a reality.
British business also had its own leading role in the turmoil the global economy felt over the last few
years. One of the current London 2012 partners, Lloyds Banking Group, is in the unusual situation of
being a partly taxpayer- owned commercial sponsor of a partly taxpayer-funded event!
Just as 1948 was a time of international instability despite the end of the Second World War, so we
feel the same sense of uncertainty today. Britain continues to be at War in Afghanistan and pulled
into an abstract conflict in Iraq - with little prospect of true resolution of either in the short term.
There continues to be an impact on the British consciousness and conscience as the death toll and
financial costs mount. While this clearly has nowhere near the same impact as the Berlin Airlift and
emerging threat of Russia had after 1945, the fact that Britain is effectively at war with extremist
terrorism in general, and Al Quaeda in particular, could yet have more propensity to play itself out in
the events of the Games themselves. Increased security remains a significant additional expense for
future Olympic Games and particularly for one to be held in London.
Source: Rogan, Matt and Rogan, Martin, Britain and the Olympic Games – Past, Present, Legacy, Matador,
Leicester (UK), 2011, pages 55-56 and 60.
© Australian Olympic Committee