The London Olympics 1908 and 2012

To mark the 2012 London Olympics, Andrew Pratt has written the hymn 'Lift high the banner'. It may be freely used in church services. If your church has a CCLI licence, then please record its use in the normal way.

Lift high the banner of these games

in this Olympic year,

that as we forge relationships,

respect might cast out fear.

Whatever name or creed we bear,

we share a common birth,

our skill and our ability

is drawn from all the earth.

Four billion people watch and cheer,

each country hand in hand,

where race, and faith and nation meet,

we pledge to make a stand:

through training we achieve each goal,

the victory is won.

A greater challenge far, for all:

to treat this world as one.

And so, O God we pray for grace,

in each success or loss,

that we might find humility

to bear each crown or cross;

in circles of communion

to share a common task,

to work for peace, to build fresh hope,

is all we seek or ask.

Andrew Pratt

© 2012 Stainer & Bell Ltd

Suggested tune: Kingsfold

In 1908 the marathon was extended in length by around a mile and a quarter - the extra distance being added to allow King Edward VIII and Queen Alexander to view the start from Windsor Castle. The new length of 26miles 385 yards - the distance between the castle and the finish in west London at the White City Stadium - is now the standard.

The winner of that marathon was an Italian confectioner, Dorando Pietri. So exhaused was he when entering the stadium that he initially turned in the wrong direction. Collapsing several times over the last couple of hundred yards, he was helped to his feet and over the winning line by officials, completing the run in 2hours, 54 minutes, 44 seconds. He was disqualified and the gold medal was awarded to and American Johnny Hayes. However, since Dorando was not himself responsible for the disqualification, Queen Alexandra, at the suggestion of Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle, presented Pietri with a special cup on the next day 'for pluck'.

For the first time the Olympic creed that "the most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part" was publicly proclaimed at a service in St Paul's Cathedral on 19th July.