Ian Searcey

Moscow’s preparations to host the 1980 Games were well underway when ITN visited the Soviet capital in 1979. But then the Russians invaded Afghanistan, and a US-led Olympic boycott followed.

Two years before the 1980 Games, Scottish sprinter Alan Wells revealed to ITN that his ambition was to prove himself a “reasonable sprinter”. He went on to win gold and silver medals in Moscow.

Swimmer Sharron Davies had already been identified as a medal prospect for the 1980 Moscow Olympics when ITN went to meet her and her trainer at Crystal Palace in 1977.

With the 1976 games only months away, ITN’s Michael Brunson was dispatched to Montreal, where a flight over the Olympic Stadium revealed huge gaps between sections of the building.

The deaths of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team at the hands of Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Munich Games have overshadowed the security arrangements of every Olympics since.

Swimmer Mark Spitz set a new record at the Munich Olympics, winning seven gold medals. 18 years later, he was back in the pool bidding to make the US team for the 1992 Barcelona Games.

After their Tour de France success, Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish will be stars at London 2012. How different from 1972, when Phil Edwards was living on his savings as he prepared for Munich.

Having already won gold in the 1971 European eventing championships, Princess Anne was training hard for the Munich summer Olympics when ITN sent Gerald Seymour to Windsor in March 1972.

Three days before winning gold in Rome – and less than four years before becoming world heavyweight boxing champion – Muhammad Ali spoke to ITN about his “Romanic” name and why he took up boxing.

At the 1964 Tokyo games, Mary Rand broke the world long jump record to win gold. But four years earlier, as post room worker Mary Bignall, she was just another Olympic hopeful.

Britain’s 1960 Olympic uniform showcased a “blue hopsack” centre-vent blazer, pinpoint trousers and blue suede shoes with cooling airholes. Eat your heart out, Stella McCartney.

After winning gold in the Melbourne 3,000 metres steeplechase, Chris Brasher, a US oil company employee, stopped off in the States on his way home – finally returning to the UK on 9 January 1957.

100 metres backstroke gold medallist Judy Grinham returned to London in the depths of winter after her 1956 Melbourne triumph. She was welcomed home by friends, relatives – and ITN’s John Hartley.

Teenager Terry Spinks had to take time off from his dustbin round to win flyweight gold at Melbourne. Reginald Bosanquet met him on his return at the family home in Canning Town.