Table Of ContentThe British Olympic Association: A History
DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0001
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DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0001
The British Olympic
Association: A History
Kevin Jefferys
Professor of Contemporary History,
University of Plymouth, UK
DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0001
© Kevin Jeff erys 2014
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 2014 978-1-137-36341-1
All rights reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this
publication may be made without written permission.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted
save with written permission or in accordance with the provisions of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, or under the terms of any licence
permitting limited copying issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency,
Saff ron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS.
Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication
may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
Th e author has asserted his right to be identifi ed as the author of this work
in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published 2014 by
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
Palgrave Macmillan in the UK is an imprint of Macmillan Publishers Limited,
registered in England, company number 785998, of Houndmills, Basingstoke,
Hampshire RG21 6XS.
Palgrave Macmillan in the US is a division of St Martin’s Press LLC,
175 Fift h Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Palgrave Macmillan is the global academic imprint of the above companies
and has companies and representatives throughout the world.
Palgrave® and Macmillan® are registered trademarks in the United States,
the United Kingdom, Europe and other countries.
ISBN: 978–1–137–36342–8 PDF
ISBN: 978–1-349-47300-7
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
www.palgrave.com/pivot
doi: 10.1057/9781137363428
Contents
Acknowledgements vi
List of Abbreviations vii
Introduction 1
1 Antecedents and Origins: Athens
1896–St Louis 1904 7
2 Solid Foundations: Athens 1906–
London 1908 19
3 Trials and Tribulations: Stockholm
1912–Amsterdam 1928 34
4 The Shadows of Depression and War:
Los Angeles 1932–London 1948 54
5 Post-War Challenges: Helsinki
1952–Montreal 1976 74
6 Years of Turbulence and Change:
Moscow 1980–Atlanta 1996 92
7 Into the Twenty-First Century: Sydney
2000–London 2012 and Beyond 112
Appendix: British Olympic Association
Senior Office-Holders 128
Select Bibliography 129
Index 137
DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0001 v
Acknowledgements
I am grateful for the kindness and assistance offered by the
archivists and their fellow staff at the following: the Univer-
sity of East London (British Olympic Association archive);
the Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies, Aylesbury (Lord
Desborough papers); Churchill College, Cambridge (Lord
Noel-Baker papers); and the National Archives, Kew
(Cabinet and departmental papers). The author and
publishers are also grateful to the above for permission,
where required, to quote from copyright material; detailed
acknowledgement is provided in the Notes that follow
at the end of each chapter. If any copyright owners have
been inadvertently overlooked, the author will be happy
to seek to make necessary arrangements at the earliest
opportunity.
vi DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0002
List of Abbreviations
AAA Amateur Athletic Association
AOC American Olympic Committee (later United
States Olympic Committee)
BISC British International Sports Committee
BOA British Olympic Association
BOC British Olympic Council
IAAF International Amateur Athletic Association
IOC International Olympic Committee
LOCOG London Organising Committee of the
Olympic Games (2012)
MCC Marylebone Cricket Club
NGB National Governing Body
NOC National Olympic Committee
NPRS National Physical Recreation Society
DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0003 vii
Introduction
Abstract: The British Olympic Association (BOA) occupies
an important place in the landscape of sports governance,
past and present. Its record includes responsibility for
supporting British teams with travel and accommodation
costs to attend every Olympic Games in the modern era.
Despite the Association’s prominence and its high-profile
role in controversial events such as the 1980 Moscow
Olympic boycott, there has hitherto been no single-volume
historical overview of the organisation. This book aims
to provide a concise account of the origins, development
and influence of the BOA, from its foundation in 1905
through to the present day. It will not only acknowledge
shortcomings and missed opportunities but also recognise
the BOA’s successes and long-term contribution to the
global Olympic movement.
Jefferys, Kevin. The British Olympic Association:
A History. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.
DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0004.
DOI: 10.1057/9781137363428.0004
