THE BRITISH OLYMPIC ASSOCIATION 1905-2005 - A CHRONOLOGY by Philip Barker* he British Olympic Association celebrated its of an appropriate new stadium at White City in centenary this May. It is one of the oldest West London.6 TNational Olympic committees and it can All but two of the original BOA council point to a proud record of Olympic attendance. members found a role on the organising committee Never has Great Britain missed an Olympic for London 1908, they were supplemented by celebration Summer or Winter. men like Colonel ONSLOW of the National Physical In fact Olympism had been alive and well Recreation Society. in Britain far longer, and scholars such as ISOH The judges were chosen from the British sports member Don ANTHONY have produced exhaustive governing bodies. Though British eyes saw this as histories of the development of the a great tribute to home standards of fair play,7 movement in Britain throughout the it was a policy that was to lead to problems 19th century.1 later on.8 Britain's first IOC members The BOA was responsible for were Lord AMPTHILL and Charles coordinating a British team for the HERBERT. Both joined in 1894 and first time. They marched behind the though AMPTHILL soon resigned, Union Flag and United Kingdom The Reverend de COURCY name board but in certain team LAFFAN began his long service sports, Scotland and Ireland British to Olympism. In 1904 the IOC entered separate teams.9 Olympic visited London for the first time Britain eventually won 56 Crest and during their stay saw Cricket gold medals which inevitably and Archery.2 meant subsequent games would The meeting galvanised Britain's suffer in comparison. three IOC members to circulate a letter proposing the "formation of a Reactions to disappointment British Olympic Association"3. in Stockholm 1912 Britain only won 41 medals Formation of the BOA in 1912 so a protracted debate The Association was duly constituted at after the relative disappointment a meeting room in the House of Commons of Stockholm saw Sir Arthur CONAN on 24th May 1905. Frustratingly little is recorded of DOYLE offer a robust defence of Britain's that meeting, but the members of the new body continuing Olympic participation and joined a were listed in the Olympic Review.4 William Henry "Special Committee" headed by Sir John Edward GRENFELL, Lord DESBOROUGH was chosen as the Kynaston STUDD. Royal support was canvassed Chairman and COURCY LAFFAN was asked to be and a fighting fund of £100,000 equal to millions secretary on a temporary basis. He was still in the today.10 job fifteen years later. The BOA sent delegates to War meant the plan was never put into the Congress on the theme of Sport and Physical operation but in 1919 Lieutenant-Colonel Arnold Recreation in Brussels that summer and fund Nugent Strode JACKSON picked up the theme in a raising was soon under way to send a team to the series of articles in The Times. The magic figure of Interim or Intercalated Games in Athens in 1906. £100,000 was mentioned once more.11 DESBOROUGH led the Epee team which placed In September 1919 the BOA met in Russell second in Athens. Whilst there it became clear Square and resolved to accept the invitation to Rome would be unable to stage the 1908 Olympic compete at the Olympics in Antwerp. William Games as originally planned. He sounded out Hayes FISHER, now Lord DOWNHAM was installed British opinion about taking over as host city and as Chairman but died only a week before the main a meeting of the Council in November 1906 agreed events of the summer began in Antwerp.12 In the to do so.5 aftermath of Antwerp disaffection continued. DESBOROUGH was by now a member of the IOC There was even talk of changing the name to himself. He did a deal with the organizers of the the "British Sports Association" but no agreement Anglo-French exhibition to make sure the games was reached. * I am indebted to fellow ISOH member Don Anthony for his invaluable help with this article. 64 JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 13(MAY/JUNE 2005)2 Even so the appeal fund needed bolstering by another newspaper appeal and also British Olympic stamps.15 The team handbook at this time included strict guidelines on what was expected from team members.16 The message which came from the King made it clear just how important Olympic performance had become to the prestige of the British Empire.17 Los Angeles and Berlin BOA stamp In 1932, the BOA faced the biggest financial drain But change was coming. COURCY LAFFAN resigned. yet on its resources to take a team to the USA. He was now 67 and determined to make way for a The gathering depression meant only £10,000 was younger man. He was replaced by an RAF physical raised and a team of only 74, the smallest since training Instructor Flying Officer Albert ADAMS. 1904 was sent to the games. (LAFFAN had also been pressed into service as an The Berlin Olympics were a watershed in many emergency chairman after DOWNHAM'S death.) ways. Lord BURGHLEY18, already an IOC member ADAMS was soon posted abroad and relinquished had just become chairman and launched an appeal 19 his post to Brigadier Reginald KENTISH, IOC which realised £9,034. A large team attended and member in Britain. were provided with a detailed handbook which gave details of uniform, luggage collection and The Army and Navy Meeting 1922 so on but no guidance as to how the team should The meeting on 7th November 1922 is generally behave passing the saluting dais. Lester FINCH a credited with establishing the BOA on a firm footballer recalls a decision was made to give a 20 footing. In the first instance it resolved that Britain simple "eyes right" to HITLER. would certainly take part in future Olympiads. The BOA report would pass comment on other 21 The initiative for the meeting came from Brigadier teams' salutes. KENTISH, and the BOA report of proceedings emphasises the significance of the meeting. The Austerity Games 1948 London had been allocated the 1944 Olympics and "The direct outcome of that meeting has been then in early 1946, was confirmed as the host city the placing of the British Olympic Association for 1948 The British Olympic council conducted on a sound and permanent footing and the the preliminary work before handing over to the determination of the country, no matter what organizing committee to make preparations for a small section of the press or public may say the games. to the contrary, to play her role in this great The team itself nearly had an embarrassing educative movement."13 moment at the opening ceremony. It appears the Union flag had been forgotten and Roger Chariots of Fire and the 1920s BANNISTER, working as an assistant to the BOA Earl CADOGAN became the new chairman and Secretary Evan HUNTER made a dash through the 22 King GEORGE V agreed to become Patron. The crowds with a replacement. Prince of Wales (Later EDWARD VIII) The Duke of The games opened by King GEORGE VI were YORK (Later GEORGE VI) and Prince HENRY were all considered a tremendous success. In the immediate recruited as vice patrons. An appeal fund was set aftermath the BOA had a new secretary, Kenneth up which initially raised only £7,900. The national Sandilands (Sandy) DUNCAN to remain at the helm 23 newspaper the Daily Mail then campaigned for for the next quarter of a century. funds with Winston CHURCHILL speaking at the In 1950 the BOA staged a ceremony at Wembley. launch of its appeal at the Mansion house. The final Two plaques were unveiled to mark the 1948 24 appeal totalled £26,767 and a team of 450 went to Olympic Games. Paris accompanied by the Prince of Wales. Amateurism and sportsmanship continued to be The Elizabethan Era an issue for the British. The Great Britain football A small team arrived in Oslo for the Winter Games team did not participate in the Olympic Games to the saddest news. King GEORGE VI died on again until 1936, because of a disagreement about the eve of the Opening Ceremony. His daughter what constituted an amateur. ELIZABETH succeeded him and also became BOA Though publicity and marketing had not yet patron receiving the team at Buckingham Palace become widespread but in 1926, the British Olympic before the summer games. Journal appeared for the first time and later BOA Another big newspaper appeal had helped chairman and IOC member Lord ROCHDALE took raise £68,000 which the BOA saw as valuable advantage of the new medium of Radio to give a insurance with the long and expensive journey to 25 talk on the Olympics.14 Melbourne still to come. JOURNAL OF OLYMPIC HISTORY 13(MAY/JUNE 2005)2 65 The venue of the winter games was switched late from Denver to Innsbruck and the British administration was also forced to make a late change. 1964 Bobsled champion Tony NASH was to have returned to the scene of his great triumph, this time as Chef de Mission but a last minute illness saw SPARKES drafted in. BOA The cost of sending a team to letterhead the games had been increased, 1928 partially because of the added need for security Lord Rupert NEVILL led Prince PHILIP visited the team in the Olympic the Montreal delegation as Team village but they had to wait till the very last event Commandant and this time the Chef de Mission for their first gold medal.