1968 Summer Olympics
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/* Highlights */
{{Olympics infobox|1968|Summer |
Name = Games of the XIX Olympiad |
Logo = Mexico1968 logo.gif |
Size = 250px |
Host city = [[Mexico City]], [[Mexico]] |
Nations participating = 112 |
Athletes participating = 5,530<br>(4,750 men, 780 women)|
Events = 172 in 20 [[sport]]s |
Opening ceremony = [[October 12]], [[1968]] |
Closing ceremony = [[October 27]], [[1968]] |
Officially opened by = President [[Gustavo Díaz Ordaz]] |
Athlete's Oath = [[Pablo Garrido]] |
Judge's Oath = |
Olympic Torch = [[Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo]] |
Stadium = [[Estadio Olímpico Universitario]] |
}}
The '''1968 Summer Olympics''', officially known as the '''Games of the XIX Olympiad''', were an [[international]] multi-[[sport]] event which was celebrated in [[Mexico City]] in [[1968]]. Mexico City beat out bids from [[Detroit]], [[Buenos Aires]] and [[Lyon]] to host the Games on [[October 18]], [[1963]], at the 60th [[IOC Session]] in [[Baden-Baden]], [[West Germany]]. The Games were preceded by the [[Tlatelolco massacre]], in which hundreds of students were killed by security forces ten days before the opening day. It is the only Games ever held in Latin America, and it was the second ever outside of Europe, Australia, or the USA.
The chart's information below is a compliment from [http://www.aldaver.com/votes.html the International Olympic Committee Vote History] web page.
{| class="wikitable" border="1" cellpadding="3" style="border-collapse: collapse;"
|-
! colspan="7" | 1968 Summer Olympics Bidding Results
|-
| '''City'''
| '''NOC Name'''
| bgcolor=""|'''Round 1'''
|-
||[[Mexico City]]||{{MEX}}
||'''30'''
|-
||[[Detroit, Michigan]]||{{USA}}
||14
|-
||[[Lyon]]||{{FRA}}
||12
|-
||[[Buenos Aires]]||{{ARG}}
||2
|}
==Highlights==
* The high altitude of Mexico City (2240 m) made it difficult for many endurance athletes to adapt to the oxygen-deprived air. The high altitude was also credited with contributing to many record setting jumps and leaps in the long jump, high jump and pole vault events.
* For the first time, athletes from [[East Germany|East]] and [[West Germany]] were members of separate teams, after having competed in a [[United Team of Germany|combined team]] till [[1964]].
* [[United States|US]] [[discus throw]]er [[Al Oerter]], won his fourth consecutive [[gold medal]] in the event to become only the second athlete to achieve this feat in an individual event.
* [[Bob Beamon]] jumped 8.90 m in the [[long jump]], a 55 cm improvement of the world record that would stand until [[1991]] (when it was broken by [[Mike Powell]]); it is still the Olympic record. United States athletes [[Jim Hines]] and [[Lee Evans (athlete)|Lee Evans]] also set long world records in the 100 m and 400 m, respectively, that would last for many years to come.
* In the [[triple jump]], the previous world record was improved five times by three different athletes.
* [[Dick Fosbury]] won the gold medal in the [[high jump]] using the radical [[Fosbury flop]] technique, which quickly became the dominant technique in the event.
* In the 200 m medal award ceremony, two [[African-American]] athletes [[Tommie C. Smith|Tommie Smith]] (gold) and [[John Carlos]] (bronze) raised their black-gloved fists as a symbol of [[Black Power]]. As punishment, the International Olympic Committee banned them from the Olympic Games for life.
* After winning the gold medal for heavyweight boxing, [[George Foreman]] walked around the ring with a tiny American flag, bowing several times to the audience.
* [[Czechoslovakia]]n [[gymnastics|gymnast]] [[Věra Čáslavská]] won four gold medals.
* United States swimmer [[Charles Hickcox]] won 3 gold medals (200m IM, 400m IM, 4x100m medley relay) and 1 silver medal (100m backstroke).
* United States swimmer [[Debbie Meyer]] became the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals, in the 200, 400 and 800 m [[Freestyle swimming|freestyle]] events.
* The introduction of [[Doping (Sport)|doping]] tests resulted in the first disqualification because of doping: [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[modern pentathlon|pentathlete]] [[Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall]] was disqualified for [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]] use.
* [[John Stephen Akhwari]] of [[Tanzania]] became internationally famous after finishing the marathon, in last place, despite a dislocated knee.
* This was the first of three Olympic participations by [[Jacques Rogge]]. He competed in [[yachting]] and would later become the 8th [[IOC|President of the International Olympic Committee]].
* Mexican athlete [[Norma Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo|Norma Enriqueta Basilio]] became the first woman to light the Olympic cauldron with the Olympic flame.
* It was the first games at which there was a significant African presence in men's distance running. Africans won medals in all events from 800m to the marathon and in so doing set a trend for future games.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Carlos-Smith.jpg|thumb|[[Tommie Smith]] and [[John Carlos]] give a [[1968 Olympics Black Power Salute|clenched-fist salute]] at the 1968 Summer Olympics.]] -->
==Controversies==
{{main|Tlatelolco massacre}}
On October 2, 1968, ten days before the start of the 1968 Summer Olympics the Plaza de las Tres Culturas was the scene of the [[Tlatelolco massacre]], in which more than 300 student protesters were killed by army and police. After the event, the International Olympic Committee held an urgent meeting to consider cancelling the games.
''Main article: [[1968 Olympics Black Power salute]]''
On [[October 16]], [[1968]], an action by two Black US sprinters at the Mexico City Olympics shook the sporting world.
[[Tommie Smith]] and [[John Carlos]], the gold and bronze medalists in the men's 200-meter race, took their places on the podium for the medal ceremony barefooted and wearing civil rights buttons, lowered their heads and each defiantly [[Raised fist|raised a black-gloved fist]] as the [[Star Spangled Banner]] was played.
Both of them were members of the [[Olympic Project for Human Rights]].
Some people (particularly IOC president [[Avery Brundage]]) felt that a political statement had no place in the international forum of the Olympic Games. In an immediate response to their actions, Smith and Carlos were suspended from the U.S. team by Brundage and banned from the Olympic Village. Those who opposed the protest said the actions disgraced all Americans. Supporters, on the other hand, praised the men for their bravery.
[[Peter Norman]], the Australian sprinter who came second in the 200 m race, and [[Martin Jellinghaus]], a member of the German bronze medal-winning 1600-meter relay team, also wore Olympic Project for Human Rights buttons at the games to show support for the suspended American sprinters.
In another incident, while standing on the medal podium after the balance beam event final, [[Czechoslovakia]]n [[gymnastics|gymnast]] [[Věra Čáslavská]] quietly turned her head down and away during the playing of the Soviet national anthem.
The action was Čáslavská's silent protest against the recent Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, and was repeated when she accepted her medal for her floor exercise routine. While Čáslavská's countrymen supported her actions and her outspoken opposition to Communism (she had publicly signed and supported [[Ludvik Vaculik]]'s "Two Thousand Words" manifesto), the new regime responded by banning her from both sporting events and international travel for many years.
==Venues==
*Mexico City venues
**[[Ciudad Universitaria|University City]] (''Ciudad Universitaria'') venues
***[[Estadio Olímpico Universitario|University City Olympic Stadium]]² (''Estadio Olímpico Universitario'') - opening/closing ceremonies, athletics, football/soccer
***University City Swimming Pool² - water polo
**Magdalena Mixhuca Sports City venues
***Agustín Melgar Olympic Velodrome¹ (''Velodromo Olímpico'') - cycling
***Fernando Montes de Oca Fencing Hall¹ - fencing
***[[Palacio de los Deportes|Juan Escutia Sports Palace]]¹ (''Palacio de los Deportes Juan Escutia'') - basketball
***Municipal Stadium² - hockey
**[[Chapultepec Park]] venues
***National Auditorium² (''Auditorio Nacional'') - gymnastics
***Campo Marte² - equestrian events
***Chapultepec Sports Center² - fronton, tennis
**[[Estadio Azteca|Aztec Stadium]]² (''Estadio Azteca'') - football/soccer
**[[Alberca Olímpica Francisco Márquez|Francisco Márquez Olympic Pool]]¹ (''Alberca Olímpica Francisco Márquez'') - swimming, diving, water polo
**[[Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera|Juan de la Barrera Olympic Gymnasium]]¹ (''Gimnasio Olímpico Juan de la Barrera'') - volleyball
**[[Arena México]]² - boxing
**[[Insurgentes Theater]]² - weightlifting
**Insurgentes Ice Rink² - wrestling
**Revolution Ice Rink² - volleyball
**Frontón México² - fronton
**Asturian Sports Center² - fronton
**Lebanese Sports Center² - fronton
**Frontón Metropolitano² - fronton
**Vicente Suárez Shooting Range¹, Campo Militar No. 1, Lomas Sotelo district - shooting
**Campo Militar No. 1², Lomas de Sotelo district - modern pentathlon
**Virgilio Uribe Rowing and Canoeing Course¹ (''Pista Olímpica Virgilio Uribe''), [[Xochimilco|Xochimilco at Cuemanco]] - rowing, canoeing
*Venues outside Mexico City
**[[Estadio Cuauhtémoc|Cuauhtémoc Stadium]]¹ (''Estadio Cuauhtémoc''), [[Puebla, Puebla|Puebla]] - football/soccer preliminaries
**[[Estadio Jalisco|Jalisco Stadium]]² (''Estadio Jalisco''), [[Guadalajara, Jalisco|Guadalajara]] - football/soccer preliminaries
**Leon Stadium², [[León, Guanajuato|Leon]] - football/soccer preliminaries
**Club de Yates², Acapulco Bay, [[Acapulco]] - yachting
**Avándaro Golf Club², [[Valle de Bravo]] - equestrian events
**Acapulco Jai-Alai², [[Acapulco, Mexico|Acapulco]] - fronton
**Guadalajara Country Club², [[Guadalajara, Jalisco|Guadalajara]] - tennis
**Atlas Sports Club², [[Guadalajara, Jalisco|Guadalajara]] - tennis
**Guadalajara Sports Club², [[Guadalajara, Jalisco|Guadalajara]] - tennis
¹ New facilities constructed in preparation for the Olympic Games.
² Existing facilities modified or refurbished in preparation for the Olympic Games.
==Medals awarded==
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
{|
|
* [[Athletics at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Athletics]]
* [[Basketball at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Basketball]]
* [[Boxing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Boxing]]
* [[Canoeing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Canoeing]]
* [[Cycling at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Cycling]]
* [[Diving at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Diving]]
* [[Equestrian at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Equestrian]]
* [[Fencing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Fencing]]
* [[Football at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Football]]
* [[Gymnastics at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Gymnastics]]
|width=20|
|valign=top|
* [[Hockey at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Hockey]]
* [[Modern pentathlon at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Modern pentathlon]]
* [[Rowing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Rowing]]
* [[Sailing at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Sailing]]
* [[Shooting at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Shooting]]
* [[Swimming at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Swimming]]
* [[Volleyball at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Volleyball]]
* [[Water polo at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Water polo]]
* [[Weightlifting at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Weightlifting]]
* [[Wrestling at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Wrestling]]
|}
===Demonstration sports===
* [[Basque pelota at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Basque pelota]]
* [[Tennis at the 1968 Summer Olympics|Tennis]]
==Participating nations==
[[Image:1968 Olympic games countries.PNG|thumb|240px|participants]]
{|
|valign=top|
* {{flagIOC|AFG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ALG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ARG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AUS|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AUT|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BAH|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BAR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BEL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BER|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BOL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BRA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HBR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BUL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|BIR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CMR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CAN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CAF|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CEY|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CHA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CHI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|COL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|COD|1968 Summer|name=Congo Kinshasa}}
* {{flagIOC|CRC|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CIV|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|CUB|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TCH|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|DEN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|DOM|1968 Summer}}
|width=20|
|valign=top|
* {{flagIOC|ECU|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|EGY|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ESA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ETH|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FIJ|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FIN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FRA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GDR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|FRG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GHA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GBR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GRE|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|GUY|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HON|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HKG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|HUN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ISL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IND|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|INA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IRI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IRQ|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|IRL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ISR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ITA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|JAM|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|JPN|1968 Summer}}
|width=20|
|valign=top|
* {{flagIOC|KEN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KOR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|KUW|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LIB|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LBA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LIE|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|LUX|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAD|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAS|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MLI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MLT|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MEX|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MON|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MGL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|MAR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NED|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|AHO|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NZL|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NCA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NIG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NGR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|NOR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PAK|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PAN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PAR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PER|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PHI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|POL|1968 Summer}}
|width=20|
|valign=top|
* {{flagIOC|POR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|PUR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ROU|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SMR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SEN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SLE|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SIN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|URS|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ESP|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SUD|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SUR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SWE|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SUI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|SYR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ROC|1968 Summer|name=Taiwan}}
* {{flagIOC|TAN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|THA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TRI|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TUN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|TUR|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|UGA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|USA|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|URU|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|VEN|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|VIE|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ISV|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|YUG|1968 Summer}}
* {{flagIOC|ZAM|1968 Summer}}
|}
==Medal count==
{{Main|1968 Summer Olympics medal count}}
These are the top ten nations that won medals at these Games (host Mexico won 3 of each color of medal):
{| {{RankedMedalTable}}
|-
|1||align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1968 Summer}} ||45||28||34||107
|-
|2||align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1968 Summer}} ||29||32||30||91
|-
|3||align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1968 Summer}} ||11||7||7||25
|-
|4||align=left| {{flagIOC|HUN|1968 Summer}} ||10||10||12||32
|-
|5||align=left| {{flagIOC|GDR|1968 Summer}} ||9||9||7||25
|-
|6||align=left| {{flagIOC|FRA|1968 Summer}} ||7||3||5||15
|-
|7||align=left| {{flagIOC|TCH|1968 Summer}} ||7||2||4||13
|-
|8||align=left| {{flagIOC|FRG|1968 Summer}} ||5||11||10||26
|-
|9||align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1968 Summer}} ||5||7||5||17
|-
|10||align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1968 Summer}} ||5||5||3||13
|}
==See also==
* [[International Olympic Committee]]
* [[IOC country codes]]
* [[1968 Summer Paralympics]]
* [[Tlatelolco Massacre]]
* [[1968 Olympics Black Power Salute]]
==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1968 IOC Site on 1968 Summer Olympics]
* [http://www.gamesbids.com/english/archives/past.shtml Result of the 1968 Summer Olympics host city candidacies]
* [http://www.wsws.org/articles/2000/oct2000/olym-o25.shtml An article on the American Sprinters Controversy]
{{Olympic_Games}}
[[Category:1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[ar:ألعاب أولمبية صيفية 1968]]
[[bn:১৯৬৮ গ্রীষ্মকালীন অলিম্পিক্স]]
[[bs:XIX Olimpijske igre - Ciudad Mexico 1968.]]
[[bg:Летни олимпийски игри 1968]]
[[ca:Jocs Olímpics d'estiu 1968]]
[[cs:Letní olympijské hry 1968]]
[[da:Sommer-OL 1968]]
[[de:Olympische Sommerspiele 1968]]
[[et:1968. aasta suveolümpiamängud]]
[[es:Juegos Olímpicos de México 1968]]
[[eo:Somera Olimpiko 1968]]
[[fa:بازیهای المپیک تابستانی ۱۹۶۸]]
[[fr:Jeux Olympiques d'été de 1968]]
[[gl:Xogos Olímpicos de 1968]]
[[ko:1968년 하계 올림픽]]
[[hr:XIX. Olimpijske igre - Ciudad Mexico 1968.]]
[[id:Olimpiade Mexico City 1968]]
[[it:Giochi della XIX Olimpiade]]
[[he:אולימפיאדת מקסיקו סיטי (1968)]]
[[la:1968 Olympia Aestiva]]
[[hu:1968. évi nyári olimpiai játékok]]
[[mk:Летни олимписки игри - 1968]]
[[nah:Āltepētl Mēxihco 1968]]
[[nl:Olympische Zomerspelen 1968]]
[[ja:メキシコシティオリンピック]]
[[no:Sommer-OL 1968]]
[[nn:Sommar-OL 1968]]
[[pl:Letnie Igrzyska Olimpijskie 1968]]
[[pt:Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 1968]]
[[ro:Jocurile Olimpice de vară din 1968]]
[[ru:Летние Олимпийские игры 1968]]
[[simple:1968 Summer Olympics]]
[[sl:Poletne olimpijske igre 1968]]
[[sr:Летње олимпијске игре 1968.]]
[[sh:Olimpijada 1968]]
[[fi:Kesäolympialaiset 1968]]
[[sv:Olympiska sommarspelen 1968]]
[[th:โอลิมปิกฤดูร้อน 1968]]
[[tr:1968 Yaz Olimpiyatları]]
[[zh:1968年夏季奥林匹克运动会]]