An Olympic History

The Olympic Games are heading to Paris this summer! Take a look back at the history of this amazing event with SuperStock.
329 items in this collection sampler
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Panathinaiko Stadium, Athens Olympic Games, 1876, Greece, 19th century.
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The Czech team enter the stadium in Amsterdam during the opening of the 1928 Olympic games
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"Olympic Designs" British Women's Uniform Chosen : "Olympic-Look" A smiling model shows off the new British women's Olympic uniform in London, to-day (Thursday).Simply cut, white, open-necked dresses with tight-fitting navy blue jackets, will be the uniform of British Olympic women athletes at this year's Games. Chosen by members of the team from a selection submitted by an Oxford street store, the uniform will be topped off by a beret with Union Jack - Olympic Rings badge. The Skirt hemline is 15 inches from the ground. May 20, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Olympic Games Boxing : Bout Number 90 Bantamweight Arnoldo Pares (Argentina) left Versus J.W. Carruthers (Australia) the Australian won on Points. August 10, 1948.
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Olympic Games 1948 - Fencing - Miss M. A. Glen Haig of Gt. Britain (296) in her bout during the Women's Foils with Miss F. Filz of Austria (right), whom she defeated. August 02, 1948.
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Olympic Games 1948 - Athletics - ***** The finish of Heat 2 in ***** metres, P.H. Valle of Gt. Britain ***** (86) first; J. H. De Saram ***** (21) second and B. O. ***** of Philippines (59) third. August 02, 1948.
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Olympic Games 1948 - Women Discussion - ***** M. Ostermeyer of France ***** gold winner of the Women's ***** even with 137ft 6½ ***** she stands between G.E.C. - ***** Italy who was second (left) ***** of France, third. July 31, 1948.
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Olympic Weight - Lifter : Seen here snatching 250 pounds to win the British Middleweight championship in London on Saturday (June 21st), H. Halliday, of Kearsley, Lancashire, has been chosen to represent Britain as a Lightweight in the Weight-lifting contests at the Olympic Games in Helsinki. June 24, 1952. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Olympic Games: Cycling at Herne Hill, London.The Australian team during the 4,000 metres team Pursuit event. August 07, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).
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XIV Olympiad Opens: Australian Athletes pictured in the parade of six thousand athletes at Wembley Stadium, London, to-day (July 29th) as they march in procession at the opening of the 1948 Olympic Games. July 29, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Olympic Stars Sign Up -- These little Highland dancers claimed autographs from Olympic Gold Medalists Yvette Williams of New Zealand (long jump), at left, and Australian Shirley Strickland (80 metres hurdles), during the annual City of Edinburgh Highland Games, staged at Murrayfield Rugby Ground. August 25, 1952.
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Olympic Games : Olympic Yachting At Torbay - Yachts get away at the start of the Dragon class. L to R. "Slagnoken" (Sweden) S. 183, "Allegro" (France) (F.1), "Pamfsero" (Argentina) (A.1), "Joy" (Holland) (H.50) and "Ausonia" (Italy). August 03, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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"Olympic Way" Opened In Readiness For The Games -- Lord Burghley (left) with Councillor H. Sirkett, Mayor of Wembley, look on as Mr. Alfred Barnes unveils the name-plate of the new "Olympic Way'. The official opening of the new road which has been constructed form Wembley Park Station to the Empire Stadium, was performed by Mr. Alfred Barnes, Minister of Transport. The road - named "Olympic Way" will greatly facilitate the movement of traffic and visitors to the Olympic Games. July 7, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency Limited).
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Olympic Games : Rowing At Henley - The finish of heat 2 pairs race. Switzerland winning, from Australia (left foreground) and Denmark (right). August 05, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).
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Presentation of medals by HRH Prince Hendrik of the Netherlands at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic games
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Olympic Games - Decision reversed in 400 metres relay final Result - U.S.A. now winners : This series of pictures from the official Olympic Games film, shows the disputed hand-over in the 400 metres relay final, in which this film has become the vital evidence. The decision which was awarded to Great Britain, has now been reversed and the U.S.A. team are the winners of the 400 metres relay final. In the pictures, Ewell of U.S.A., can be seen handing over the baton to Wright (USA) (Team R). The hand-over is completed in between the centre and final lines and in picture no. 6 Wright can be seen with the baton in his hand the change-over completed-before he reaches the final line."These Photographs are reproduced from the Official 'Olympic Games Film'. August 16, 1948. (Photo by Olympic Photo Association).
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Australians All Out... to Succeed in Olympics - John Treloar (New South Wales), ***** Olympic hope in the 100 and *****.The Australian Olympic team is in training at Motspur Park for its part in the forthcoming Olympic Games. July 08, 1948.
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Olympic Games: Yachting at Torquay - Girls in white place laurel wreaths on the competitors flags.Closing ceremony at Torre Abbey and distribution of awards to competitors by Major Sir Ralph Gore, Bt. August 13, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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The XIV Olympiad Closed -- Sir Frederick Wells, lord mayor of London, holds the Olympic flag as the state trumpeters blare the official end of the fourteenth modern Olympic games is Wembley Stadium in London Saturday. At Well's right is J. Sigfrid Edstrom, President of the International Olympic committee. Right foreground is Lord Burghley Chairman of the Olympic organizing committee. August 16, 1948. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).
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Crew from the Bucintoro club from Venice in their canoe, Italy, winners at the Olympic Games in Athens, April 24, 1906, photograph by Paolo Salviati, from L'Illustrazione Italiana, Year XXXIII, No 20, May 20, 1906.
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Burly Bantam: Korea's K. H. Lee takes the strain as he competes in the Bantam weight division of the Olympic games Weight-lifting contest at Empress Hall, Earls Court, London, today August 9. August 9, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).
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Olympic Games : Italian And French Protest - Italian and French competitors and supporters shouting protests as Louis Chevalier (France No. 365) is disqualified during heat 2 of the 10,000 metres Walk at Wembley Stadium. August 03, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).
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Miss Helen Stephens won the 100 metres race at the Olympic games. August 17, 1936.
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British Olympic Horsemen Show Their pages : Major Borwick on "The Abbott" takes a jump in fine style during the Dressage Test.The British Equestrian team for the forthcoming Olympic Games gave a demonstration of their skill at the Three Counties Agricultural show at Gloucester. June 09, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).
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Miss Helen Stephens & Jesse Owens congratulating each other at the Olympic Games. August 31, 1936. (Photo by Associated Press Photos).
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Olympic Games. Helsinki - Exciting Uruguay players demonstrating at the result of the Uruguay - France Basket Ball contest at the Olympic Games, Helsinki. France was declared the winner by 68 points to 66.Stormy Stormy Petrels of the Olympic Games were Uruguayan basket-bailers. In the match against France, which France won 68-66, two Uruguayans knocked out the American referee.Picture shows one of the team demonstrating against the referee from the sideline. July 30, 1952.
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San Francisco, California: 1920 The San Francisco Olympic Club Water Polo team, winner of the American title in 1920. Behind L-R: Gardner, Steiger, Resleure, Smith. Front L-R: Goodman, Carson, Schultz. They will go to Chicago for the Olympic swimming trials to be held in the Lincoln Park lagoon and will probably be part of the United States team at the Olympic Games in Belgium.
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Olympic Games: The start of the Women's First Round of the 100 metres at Empire Stadium, Wembley, to-day (Saturday). From right to left are : A. Patterson (U.S.A), J. A. King (Australia), Kretschmer de Buccicardi, B (Chile), G. V. Lovso Nielson (Denmark), and W. S. Jordan (Great Britain). July 31, 1948. (Photo by Olympic Photo Association).
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Olympic Games : Contestants in the 10,000 Metres rounding the bend at Wembley Stadium this afternoon (Friday). The event was won by E. Zatopek (CZech). Picture taken after 880 metres. July 30, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Americans View Wembley Stadium: London's Wembley Stadium, venue for the Olympic Games, looks in first-class order today, July 27, two days before the opening of the Great meeting. Today Athletes were allowed to inspect the stadium for the first time, and here, looking at the platform from which the Olympic fire will flame throughout the games, are left to right, Malvin C. Whitfield (400 and 800 metres), from Bay City, Texas, A. Richmond Morcum (Pole Vault), from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Vern V. Mcgrew (high Jump), from Houston, Texas, and Leroy Braxton Cochran (400 metres hurdles), from Long Beach California. July 27, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).
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Britain's First Success In Olympic Yachting : Swallow Class Yachts jockeying at the start of their race in Torbay August 4, when Great Britain recorded her first Olympic Games Yachting win. Yacht K.7, the "Swift," sailed by S.H. Morris, won the event in 1 hour, 56 minutes, 54 seconds. The Canadian entry "Scaup" (K.C.1), sailed by J. Robertson was second, with Sweden's "Chance" (S.2) Third, other vessels unidentifiable are, H. 4 (Holland's "St. Margriet"), L.1 (Italy's "Enotria".) K.10 (Eire's "The Cloud"), BL.9 (Brazil's "Andorinha"), P. 12 (Portugal's "Symphony"), and U.I (United States" "Margaret"), sailed by lockwood pirie. August 5, 1948. (Photo by Olympic Photo Association).
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A.B.A. Searcres For Olympic Team - Aspirants for Britain's Olympic Games boxing team line up for the Weigh-in before training this afternoon. On the scales Ron Bebbington. Imperial Services middle-weight champion.The Amateur Boxing Association are holding a series of weekend courses in the theory and practice of boxing in an effort to select the best possible team for the Olympic Games. At a typical meeting of the course at Nelson School, Tranalgar St., Walworth, today, the boxers attending were given lectures on morale, Physical training treatment of injuries, etc., by exports. January 03, 1948. (Photo by Fox).
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Olympic Fire Blazes At Wembley : Smoke from the torch held by Cambridge "Blue" John Mark drifts up as he is about to kindle the fire which will burn throughout the period of the 1948 Olympic Games. His was the primilege of being the last runner to bear the flame on its hand-to-hand journey from the temple of Zeus in Greece. Watching him in this dramatic ***** the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympics today, July 29, are 6000 assembled athletes of 58 countries and a crowd of 80,000 packing the sunlit stadium. July 29, 1948. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).
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The Olympic uniform: Let the babies of the British Olympic Team, diver ***** of Liford, Essex, pictured this evening in ***** Olympic uniform which will be worn by all woman members at the Games in Helsinki. Tomorrow evening the team is being received by the Queen at Buckingham Palace. July 06, 1952.
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Olympic Change Over At Wembley Stadium : A busy scene at famous Wembley Stadium this morning. Fleets of lorries are being used to bring in over 800 tons of red surfacing for the new running track.***** forthcoming Olympic games, is being transformed by a small army of workmen in preparation for the great event. The dog-track has been torn up by mechanical excavators to make way for the running track on which the world's athletes will compete.Britain 1948... there was still a lot of rebuilding needed in London, but they thought enough of the honour of having the Games to spare men and materials for work on Wembley Stadium. July 13, 1948. (Photo by Fox).
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Photo Shows: Mr. Ern barker in action during training at Aldershot. Australian Horsemen in England.The Equestrian team to represent Australia in the Olympic games at Stockholm in 1956 are now in training at Aldershot . The team will compete in various show jumping and combined Events ***** in Britain and on the continent as part of their training and is the first equestrian team ever to represent Australian in the Olympic Games. May 18, 1955. (Photo by Sport & General)
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Olympic Game : R. Larsson (Sweden, No. 128) wins the Semi-Finals of the 400 metres at Wembley Stadium, to-day (Fri) to set up a new Olympic record with a time of 51.9 seconds. R. Ault (USA No. 338) was second, and Duncan White (Ceylon, No. 22) came third. Picture taken at the last hurdle in the event. July 30, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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The Flame Reaches The End of Its Journey: John Mark, the mystery torch - bearer, carrying the Olympic Flame round the arena at Wembley on the last stage of its 200 - mile journey from Greece, before he lights the bowl where the flame will burn till the end of the Games. John Mark was selected as the personification of the athletic youth of the country. July 29, 1948.
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Olympic Game 1948 - Athletics - 31 miles to go - the start of the 50-kilo road walk. Twenty-one competitors set out from Wembley Stadium. It was won by the Swede, Ljunggren. July 31, 1948.
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Olympic winter games 1936 Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The prize ceremony for womens figure skating with winner in the middle, Sonja Henie. Second is british Cecilia Colledge and third swedish Vivi-Anne Hultén.
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Closing Of The Games Of The XIV Olympiad : Standing on the Tribune of Honour (nearest camera) Sir Frederick wells, Lord Mayor of London, holds the Olympic Flag which will remain in his safe keeping till the XV Olympiad which is to be celebrated in Helsinki. Also seen in this picture, made during the closing of the Games of the XIV Olympiad at Wembley Stadium, London, August 14th, are J. Sigfrid Edstrom, President of the International Olympic Committee (on Tribune furthest from camera) and standing right foreground is Lord Burghley, Chairman of the organising Committee. On left are State Trumpeters. August 14, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Misha, the mascot of the XXII Olympiad, is released in the sky during the closing ceremony of the Moscow's olimpic games. Moscow, Russian Federation, 1980
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The official poster for the Olympic Games in Berlin. March 23, 1936.
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Closing Of The Games Of The XIV Olympiad: A general view of the Closing of the Games of the XIV Olympiad at Wembley Stadium, London, August 14th. At foreground, State Trumpeters sound a Fanfare. Seen on the Tribune of Honour is Sir Frederick Wells, Lord Mayor of London. (Obscured by flag is Sigfrid Edstrom, President of the International Olympic Committee). Standing on the right of Tribune is Lord Burghley, Chairman of the Organising Committee. Behind the Tribune are paraded the flags of the competing nations. August 14, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Olympic Games -- E. Zatopek, the phenomenal Czech runner, leading round the Olympic track at Helsinki during his 5,000-metre heat. July 23, 1952. (Photo by Paul Popper Ltd.).
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German Youth Gathered for Solemn Noon Ceremony, Olympic Games, Berlin Germany, Photograph by Presse-Photo GmbH, Volume II, Group 59, Picture 6, August 1, 1936,
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For the 1948 Olympiad -- The obverse and reverse of the Olympics medal, pictured today (Tuesday) at London factory of Messrs. John Pinches, responsible for their manufacture.Medals now being struck for successful competitors in the forthcoming Olympic Games, to be held in London, are to be of oxydised silver instead of gold, as hitherto. The medals which bear a symbolic Grecian chariot on the obverse, have depicted on the reverse an impression of the Palace of Westminster, the fire interwined circles representing the five Continents, and the legend: XIV Olympied London 1948.Olympiad Medal. Austeritv medals for successful competitors in the 1948 Olympic Games, now being struck in London, are of a oxydised silver instead of gold, as ihtherto. January 27, 1948. (Photo by Reuterphoto).
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Zatopek's Wife Also Wins Olympic Gold medal -- Dana Zatopkova, wife of the Czech runner (who has so far won the 10,000m and 5,000m) pictured after she had also won a Gold Medal in the Olympic Games at ***** yesterday with a record javelin throw of 165ft 7ins. Sturdy Czech Mrs. Dana Zatopek, who won the Olympic women's javelin throw with a record of 165ft 7in. She is the wife of champion distance runner Emil Zatopek, who won three titles at the Games. July 25, 1952.
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Olympic Games: British Hope Falls At Last Hurdle.Marie (France) first: Bernard Switzerland, second and Foster (Jamaica) third, in their heat of the 110 metre Hurdles, at Wembley. Don Finlay, the veteran British hurdler, is seen falling within a yard of the winning line. August 03, 1948. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).
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Olympic Girls From 'Down Under' Train At Paddington -- Australian sprinter and hurdler Shirley Strickland hands over to fellow-country woman Verna Johnston as they practice relay changeovers during a training spell with other Australian Olympic Games women athletes at Paddington Recreation Ground. June 19, 1952.