Wembley Stadium

Lore & Background

The stadium saw the triumph of Fanny Blankers-Koen, the 'Flying Housewife,' who won four gold medals, and the stirring marathon victory of Delfo Cabrera. The 1948 opening ceremony, simple yet dignified, featured doves of peace released from the royal box, a poignant symbol after years of conflict. Though no longer the main athletics venue (that role went to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford), Wembley’s arch became a visual anchor for the 2012 Games, lit in Olympic colours and visible across the city. Its twin towers (original) and arch (new) are symbols of national pride and sporting pilgrimage.

In Their Own Story

The rain fell soft on the grey London afternoon, 29 July 1948. Inside the Empire Stadium, the crowd hushed as the Olympic flame entered. A young runner, John Mark, climbed the steps to the cauldron, his breath visible in the chill. The flame roared to life, and the stadium erupted—a sound of hope after the silence of war. On the track, Fanny Blankers-Koen, her dark hair pinned, crouched for the 100 metres. She knew the world doubted a mother could sprint. The gun fired, and she flew, her spikes tearing the cinder track. Forty thousand voices rose as one, a wave of belief that carried her to gold. For a moment, the old stadium was not just concrete and steel—it was a promise of peace, written in sweat and speed. Sixty-four years later, on a balmy August evening in 2012, the rebuilt Wembley roared again as Alex Morgan headed the USA to women's football gold, the arch blazing with Union Jack lights—a different peace, but the same roar.

Reader's Guide

For Olympic fans, Wembley is a pilgrimage site. The stadium’s most sacred tradition is the 'Wembley Roar'—the collective shout that greets a goal or a national anthem. During the 1948 Games, this roar was a release of pent-up joy; in 2012, it was a celebration of renewal. Supporters often gather at the base of the arch, touching it for luck before matches, a ritual born from the original twin towers’ role as meeting points. The 'Olympic Walk' from Wembley Park station to the stadium is lined with flags and banners, a corridor of anticipation. Inside, the Royal Box remains a focal point, where dignitaries and medalists are honoured. For many, the ultimate pilgrimage is to stand on the spot where Blankers-Koen’s starting blocks were placed—now marked by a subtle plaque near the tunnel—and imagine the crack of the starter's pistol that changed women's sport forever.

Did You Know?

• During the 1948 Olympics, Wembley hosted the Olympic torch relay, though the flame was lit in Olympia, Greece, and transported via a series of runners. The first-ever torch relay was introduced for the 1936 Berlin Olympi