1948 Olympics: Day 13: Gold, then silver, for British relay team

This year's Games has already had its fair share of protests and inquiries - some of which have enlightened the casual viewer as to the more obscure points and scoring rules in sports such as men's gymnastics . One rule that most viewers of the sprint relay understand is the one that states the baton must be passed within the designated zone - and it was this rule that led to the 1948 British 4x100m relay team being awarded first gold, when the United States were disqualified, and then silver, when the US team's appeal was successful. The Observer's report of the athletic finals admitted ruefully that victory had come 'not quite in the form one would have liked' ; but the medals had been awarded and the national anthem played before the United States lodged their complaint. Three days later, it was judged that the US had been within the limit of the designated changeover zone, and the gold was awarded to them - a far cry from the instant technology available to today's athletes disputing decisions.