2. MEXICO 1968
• The 1968 Olympic
Games in Mexico
City, Mexico.
• The Games of the
Nineteenth
Olympiad were the
highest and most
controversial ever
held.
3. ATTENDANCE
• Nations 112 (+19)
Competitors 5516
(+365)
Sports 18 (-1)
Events 172 (+9)
12 to 27
October, 1968
hosted by Mexico
City, Mexico
4. THE MASSACRE
• Only ten days before the
1968 Olympic Games
were to open, the
Mexican army
surrounded a group of
students who were
protesting against the
Mexican government at
the Plaza of Three
Cultures and opened fire
into the crowd. It is
estimated that 267 were
killed and over 1,000
were wounded.
5. FIRST WOMAN WHO FLAMES
LIGHTING
• Women had been
competing at the games
since xxxx but it wasn't until
1968 that the honor of
lighting the Olympic flame
in the stadium was handed
to a female athlete.
The honor went to Mexico's
national 80m hurdle
champion Norma
Enriqueta Basilo de Silva.
She went on to a career in
politics and sport and
carried the torch again
when the Athens games of
2004 took the relay to all
the host nations since the
first Games when it
returned to Mexico City
6. THE BLACK POWER SALUTE
• During the Olympic
Games, political
statements were also
made. Tommie Smith and
John Carlos (both from
the U.S.) won the gold
and bronze
medals, respectively, in
the 200-meter race.
When they stood
(barefoot) upon the
victory platform, during
the playing of the "Star
Spangled Banner," they
each raised one
hand, covered by a
black glove, in a Black
Power salute (picture).
7. THE BLACK POWER SALUTE II
• Their gesture was meant to
bring attention to the
conditions of blacks in the
United States. This act, since
it went against the ideals of
the Olympic
Games, caused the two
athletes to be expelled from
the Games. The IOC
stated, "The basic principle
of the Olympic Games is
that politics plays no part
whatsoever in them. U.S.
athletes violated this
universally accepted
principle to advertise
domestic political views."
8. FOSBURY FLOP
• Dick Fosbury (United
States) drew attention
not because of any
political statement, but
because of his
unorthodox jumping
technique. Though there
had been several
techniques previously
used to get over the high
jump bar, Fosbury
jumped over the bar
backwards and head
first. This form of jumping
became known as the
"Fosbury flop."
9. BEAMON’S RECORD
• Bob Beamon (United
States) made headlines
by an amazing long
jump. Known as an
erratic jumper because
he often took off with
the wrong foot,
Beamon tore down the
runway, jumped with
the correct foot,
cycled through the air
with his legs, and
landed at 8.90 meters
(making a world record
63 centimeters beyond
the old record).
10. HIGH ALTITUDE
• Many athletes felt that
the high altitude of
Mexico City affected
the events, helping
some athletes and
hindering others. In
response to complaints
about the high
altitude, Avery
Brundage, the IOC
president, stated, "The
Olympic Games
belong to all the
world, not the part of it
at sea level."**
11. FIRST DRUG TESTING
• It was at the 1968
Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall
Olympic Games that
drug testing debuted.
• The athlete in question
was Swedish modern
pentathlete Hans-
Gunnar Liljenwall who
after his team had
taken bronze in the
team event was
disqualified for having
taken alcohol before
the shooting element.
12. MOST POPULAR GAMES
• Though these
Games were filled
with political
statements, they
were very popular
Games.
Approximately 5,500
athletes
participated, repres
enting 112
countries.
13. BOWLS MAKE THE GAMES
• As someone how
does play lawn bowls
I am somewhat
frustrated that the
sport is not included
in the Olympic
programmed. It is of
course one of the
Commonwealth
Games. However, Tel
Aviv saw the
introduction of the
game for the
Paralympics.
14. MORE RECORDS
Debbie Meyer's three Wyomia Tyus becoming the
individual swimming gold first woman to win back-to-
medals. back golds in the 100 meters.
