15. LONDON 1948. Official torch of the XIV Summer Olympic Games. Official torch of the XIV Summer Olympic Games. In aluminium alloy, decorated with the Olympic rings on the bowl. More than 1,400 torchbearers covered a distance of 3,365 km across Europe. Height 41 cm. The XIV Summer Olympic Games were held in London in 1948, marking the return of the Games after the Second World War. These Games were the first to be held after a gap of twelve years, and they focused on peace and reconciliation. Over 4,000 athletes from 59 countries took part, competing in 17 sports. The event was marked by some memorable performances, including that of American athlete Bob Mathias, who won gold in the decathlon. The 1948 Games were also the first to be broadcast on television, allowing a global audience to follow the competitions live.