1948 Olympics: Last chance to qualify

In July 1948, the Amateur Athletics Association meeting at White City in London offered athletes a final chance to persuade the selectors of their ability. Prior to the meeting, the report published in the Manchester Guardian on 2 July (below) highlights the amateur spirit that still prevailed in the Olympics in 1948 - there are high hopes for "D McD Clark, a Scottish Ulster policeman" in the hammer event. However, there are also realistic expectations of the British athletes against their Commonwealth competitors, with the Manchester Guardian saying of hurdler J.R. Birrell "he will not win, but he is not likely to be outclassed."