Against the backdrop of newly emerging post War new nations after World War II, the number of competing nations reached a record high of 59. Visitors to London found the Great Empire's capitol struggling to overcome the destruction of war. The physical activity of choice was not on the sporting field, but probably the ballet, thanks to Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger's film "The Red Shoes". No wonder Baryshnikov chose 1948 as the year to be born. The great number of non-European winners was not surprising considering food rationing was still in force on most of the European continent. The future direction of the world may have been unclear in 1948 , but the "Big Bang" theory gave new insight into the past. The present however, was available in 60 seconds. 1948 was the year Polaroid cameras hit the market.