For immediate release

28 February 2012

Explore London’s Olympic history with Winning Endeavours

With only 150 days to go to the 2012 London Olympics, the Winning Endeavours website shares exciting new resources for schools and families, brought to life by images of historical documents, photographs and newspaper articles showing London’s Olympic past

Since the launch of the Winning Endeavours website www.winningendeavours.org in April 2011, three exciting new school resource packs have been developed. The school packs can be downloaded from the website, and contain teacher’s notes, ideas for class and individual activities, and students’ source sheets, and include many images of archival documents, photographs and newspaper articles. These resources are aimed at Key Stages 2 and 3 Citizenship but are ideal for families to explore.

The Inclusion School Pack, based around ideas of inclusion, uses comparisons between the 1908 and 1948 London Olympic Games, while the Austerity School Pack explores the economic restraints imposed on the 1948 London Olympics, known as the ‘Austerity’ Olympics, staged during rationing following World War II. The Marathon School Pack focuses on the dramatic marathon race of the 1908 Olympics. Detailed historical notes about the Olympics, including the 1908 and 1948 Games held in London, and London sporting history in general can be found under themed headings, and provide a wealth of additional material for learning resources.

Two short guided walks can also be downloaded from the website. Both walks are suitable for families to enjoy together. Exploring the Olympic Park’s industrial past explores the history and industrial past of the lower Lea Valley and the area of the Olympic Park in Stratford, and Shepherd’s Bush and 1908 Olympic Walk  explores the social history of Shepherd’s Bush and finds reminders of London’s first Olympics in the streets and parks.

Over 1,700 images of London’s previous Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948 together with twentieth century British Olympians and Paralympians and of London’s sporting history in general can be seen on the Winning Endeavours website www.winningendeavours.org.  The website includes many unseen images that have been taken from archival documents, newspapers, journals and ephemera in the care of the British Library, the London Metropolitan Archives and 23 other archival repositories in London and the South East of England. Many of the images have contextual notes giving useful background stories.

The Winning Endeavours project, led by Archives for London in partnership with the London Metropolitan Archives and the British Library as a contribution to the Cultural Olympiad, ensures that these resources are made available to a wider audience whilst safeguarding their future. The project was made possible by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Anne Barrett, Chair of Archives for London said: “With the London 2012 Olympics drawing ever closer, Archives for London is confident that the Winning Endeavours website will appeal to all those interested in the Olympics. We hope the new school resource packs and the guided walks will inspire teachers and pupils to learn about London’s Olympic history and to explore some of the important social aspects of London’s sporting past”.

The Winning Endeavours website will remain live until December 2012 and will then be archived at the British Library.

Ends

The Winning Endeavours events programme includes

Free school events at the London Metropolitan Archives:

30 April 2012   Relays & Rationing. The 1948 Olympics

14 May 2012   Sing a Song for 2012

Exhibition by the University of Westminster Archives

Mid-July to mid-September 2012. At 309 Regent Street, London W1B 2UW (admission free). Exhibition will show University’s close relationship with the Olympics, organising the 1908 marathon event and opening and closing ceremonies, and achievements of University’s many Olympic competitors.

Notes to editors

About Archives for London

Archives for London (AfL) was formed in 2005 and is the only organisation that brings together archive users and practitioners, to celebrate the documents, photographs and film in and about London.

Archives for London is a membership organisation and provides a successful events programme including a monthly seminar series, exclusive behind the scenes visits as well as an annual conference and topical meetings.  For the full range of activities see www.archivesforlondon.org

Archives for London Ltd is a Company registered in England and Wales: Registered No. 5635424. Registered Office: 40 Northampton Road, London EC1R 0HB.

London Metropolitan Archives (LMA) is the largest local government repository in the United Kingdom. It is based in Clerkenwell and administered by the City of London, and its holdings run to around 100 km of documents dating from 1067 to the present day. LMA holds local government and other records for the Greater London area and the City of London. These collections have been awarded designated status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s greatest research libraries. It provides world class information services in the academic, business, research and scientific communities and offers unparalleled access to the world’s largest and most comprehensive research collection. The Library’s collection has developed over 250 years and exceeds 150 million separate items representing every age of written civilisation and includes books, journals, manuscripts, maps, stamps, music, patents, photographs, newspapers and sound recordings in all written and spoken languages. Up to 10 million people visit the British Library website www.bl.uk

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy.  From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage. HLF has supported more than 30,000 projects, allocating over £4.5billion across the UK, including £868million to projects in London alone. Website www.hlf.org.uk

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