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Hertfordshire’s Olympic heritage goes back a long way and we have a fascinating history linked to the Games. Our county has produced some of the key characters and world-class athletes from past Games.

The man behind London's offer to host the 1908 Games was Lord Desborough, whose family has close links with the Panshanger estate near Welwyn.

His outstanding sporting CV included: Olympic Fencing Silver medallist, first President of the British Olympic Association, President of the British Olympic Association, President of the Oxford university Boat Club and he swam the Niagara rapids twice, climbed the Matterhorn three times and rowed across the English Channel!

Because of the War the 1948 London Games was the first Games to be held since 1936. London was being rebuilt and rationing was still in place so there was no new Stadium or Olympic Village. Athletes were housed in barracks, schools and colleges and even provided their own towels and food.

This was the first Games to be shown on television in people’s homes; although very few people in actually owned their own sets.

Hertfordshire has been home to many Olympians of the twentieth century.

Harold Abrahams represented in the 1924 Paris Games when he won Gold in the 100m sprint. His victory is told in the film Chariots of Fire. Former President of the British Athletics Association, Harold lived with his family in Rickmansworth, Hoddesdon and finally in Great Amwell where he is buried.

We are very proud of Team GB’s performance at the Beijing games, which included amazing athletes from Hertfordshire. Boxer, Billy Joe Saunders from Hatfield made history when he became the first person from the Romany Gypsy community to qualify for an Olympic Games.

MBE and five-time Paralympic God medallist, Jody Cundy, who studied at the University of Hertfordshire won two cycling Golds for Team GB.

dominated the cycling events in Beijing with help from Hitchin’s Victoria Pendleton who won the Women’s Sprint Gold.

Tom Stallard of Broxbourne Rowing Club and former Broxbourne School student Acer Nethercott helped steer the Men’s Eight to a Silver medal.

We will be hosting an Olympic venue, the White Water Canoe Slalom Centre in the Lee Valley Park and we have 17 sites in Hertfordshire that are approved pre-Games Training Camps for Olympic teams. So there are exciting times ahead, as we have the opportunity of watching an Olmpic event in our own county.

Bring it on! ~ ed

This article was created on Saturday, 7th March 2009.

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