In 1904 the IOC designated Rome as the host of the 1908 Olympic Games. Although Berlin was a strong contender for the games, Coubertin remarked that he "desired Rome only because I wanted Olympism, after its return from the excursion to utilitarian America to don once again the sumptuous toga, woven of art and philosophy, in which I had always wanted to clothe her." The Rome Olympic organizers had grand plans for the 1908 games, which were to include automobile races at Milan, boxing and wrestling in the Colosseum, and yachting in the Bay of Naples. Rome, however, declined to hold the games after its organizing committee dissolved over personality disputes and Mount Vesuvius erupted, claiming two thousand lives in 1906. London, which planned to hold the Franco-British Exposition in 1908, persuaded the IOC to award it the games.

New Management.

Despite its association with a World's Fair, the 1908 Olympics...