1964 Olympic Games (Tokyo)

The first-ever Olympic Games to be held in Asia took place in Tokyo in 1964, 24 years after the Japanese wartime government had forced their Olympic Committee to resign as hosts after they had last been awarded the honour.

A staggering $3 billion was spent preparing the city and its venues and the organisers would have been ecstatic with the record-breaking Games that followed.

Britain had their most successful Games since 1908, finishing with a tally of four gold, 12 silver and 2 bronze medals. Ken Matthews continued Britain’s success in the walking events, claiming gold in the 20-kilometre walk with a record time of one hour 29 minutes and 34 seconds.

There was a double in the long jump, with Welsh school teacher Lynn Davies jumping 8.07 metres to become the first British man to hold a field event title.

Mary Rand also registered a first, as her 6.76 metres jump meant she was the first British woman to win a gold medal and break the world record.

Middle-distance runner Ann Packer claimed Britain’s fourth gold with a world record time giving her an 800 metres gold medal to go with the silver she had won in the 400 metres.

Other notable results saw Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila become the first runner to retain his marathon title when he finished four minutes ahead of his nearest rival – and this just an amazing five weeks after he had had his appendix removed.

New Zealander Peter Snell became only the second man (after Albert Hill in 1920) to win both the 800 and 1,500 metres titles. Soviet gymnast Larissa Latynina won six medals for the third Olympics in a row with two golds, two silvers and two bronzes in the team and individual disciplines.

American Don Schollander, just 18, became the first swimmer to win four events in one Games when he claimed two individual and two relay gold medals.