History

Stoke Mandeville Stadium History

1940 Stoke Mandeville Hospital built as an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Hospital.
1944  1st February Dr.Ludwig Guttmann came to Stoke Mandeville Hospital to set up a new spinal unit to deal with war casualties suffering from spinal cord injuries. By the end of 1944 the Unit had increased to over 60 beds. By the time of Dr. Guttmann's retirement in 1966 the number of beds stood at 190.
1945  After the end of the war, the spinal unit at Barnsley Hall, Basingstoke, Leatherhead, Llandrindod Wells and Winwick were closed and their patients transferred to Stoke Mandeville.
1948  Stoke Mandeville Games founded with 16 ex-members of the British forces.
1950  14 teams competed at the games with a total of 60 competitors.
1952  The first overseas team from the Netherlands competed at the Games.
1954  14 nations were represented at the Games.
1960  First Paralympic Games in Rome.
1961  Guttmann founded British Sports Association for the Disabled, introducing
organised sport to men, women and children with disabilities other than spinal paraplegia.
1968  Work started on Stoke Mandeville Sports Stadium, built on hospital land leased by the Ministry of Health at a cost of £350,000. Organisation of the Games passed to the Paraplegic Sports Endowment Fund (later British Paraplegic Sports Society and then British Wheelchair Sports Foundation).
1969  2nd August, HRH Queen Elizabeth performed the official opening ceremony of the Stadium. 1969 was also the 21st Anniversary of the International Stoke Mandeville Games.
1979  400-metre outdoor running track added to the facilities.
1974  The Lady Guttmann Indoor Bowls Centre built.
1980  18th March Sir Ludwig Guttmann died aged 80, subsequently the Stadium complex was renamed the Ludwig Guttmann Sports Centre for the Disabled - Stoke Mandeville.
1981  The Olympic Village was opened by the BPSS President, The Right Hon. Lord Porritt.
2000  Centre closed for major £10million refurbishment.
2003  1st March, newly named 'Stoke Mandeville Stadium' re-opens.
2003  8th April, HRH The Prince of Wales officially re-opens Stadium.