By Sportsmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 04:40 EST, 28 June 2012 | UPDATED: 04:40 EST, 28 June 2012


London has staged the Olympic Games twice before, in 1908 and 1948. Here Sportsmail looks back to the two previous times the Olympics came to the capital.

1908 London Games

The 1908 London Olympics almost did not happen at all. They had been originally awarded to Rome, but the eruption of Mount Vesuvius devastated Naples and required the diversion of Italian state funds.

The White City Stadium, with a capacity of 68,000, was built at short notice for the Games. The track was one-third of a mile long, with swimming pools and gymnastics areas built in the middle.

Leap: American Leroy Holmes in the 1908 high jump

Leap: American Leroy Holmes in the 1908 high jump

Twenty two nations competed at the Games, including Australasia, which incorporated Australia and New Zealand, and Ireland, who were allowed to compete as a separate country in hockey and polo, despite being under British rule.

There were 2,008 competitors, only 37 of whom were women, and they competed across 22 sports, including Jeu de Paume, tug of war and water motorsports. Figure skating was also included, 16 years before the first Winter Games in Chamonix.

Venues included the All England Club for tennis and rackets, Bisley for shooting, the Hurlingham Club for polo, and Queen's Club for Jeu de Paume - a precursor to modern squash.

Art: The designs for the posters for the 1908 and 1948 Games

Art: The designs for the posters for the 1908 and 1948 Games

In the Games' most famous moment, Italy's Dorando Pietri, close to collapse, was helped over the finish line of the marathon by officials, and subsequently disqualified, handing gold to American Johnny Hayes.

The total cost of the Games, including the construction of the stadium, has been estimated at 81,000. Not including the cost of the stadium, the Games budget was 15,000, over 5,000 of which was for 'entertainment expenses'. Officials claimed the Games made a profit of 6,377.

1948 London Games

Billed as the 'Austerity Games' as the world paid a price for its war effort, the 1948 London Games are estimated to have cost a total of 742,268 - just one-twentieth of the cost of the 1936 Berlin Games - and to have made a total profit of 29,000.

No new venues were constructed, and the athletes were housed in existing accommodation rather than a purpose-built Olympic Village.

The Games were opened by King George VI with Queen Elizabeth II. The 50-minute ceremony was broadcast live by the BBC, who paid 1,000 for broadcasting rights to the Games.

Charge: Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland on her way to winning the womens 100m hurdles at the 1948 Olympic Games

Charge: Fanny Blankers-Koen of Holland on her way to winning the womens 100m hurdles at the 1948 Olympic Games

A record 59 nations competed, although Germany and Japan were not invited, and the Soviet Union decided not to send any athletes. India and Pakistan competed as independent nations for the first time.

The opening and closing ceremonies, athletics, horse jumping and football finals were held at the Empire Stadium at Wembley. Swimming was staged at the Empire Pool.

Other venues included Herne Hill Velodrome for cycling, Haringey Arena for basketball and wrestling, and Finchley Lido for the water polo preliminaries. The sailing competition was held in Torquay.

Curtain raiser: Guardsmen marching round the perimeter of the track inside Wembley Stadium during the opening ceremony in 1948

Curtain raiser: Guardsmen marching round the perimeter of the track inside Wembley Stadium during the opening ceremony in 1948

The star of the Games was Dutch sprinter Fanny Blankers-Koen, known as the 'Flying Housewife', who won four gold medals in the 100 metres, 200m, 80m high hurdles and 4x100m relay.

Blankers-Koen was also the reigning world record holder at long jump and high jump, but women were restricted to three individual events.