Mexico 1968 - Olympic Games Winners

Start:

12 Oct 1968

End:

27 Oct 1968

Countries:

112

Athletes:

5516

Sports:

Events:

172

City:

Mexico, Mexico (Acapulco - Sailing)

In October 1963, at the 60th IOC session of the IOC in Baden-Baden, the petitions of the four candidate cities were considered. In the first round of voting, Mexico City, Mexico received 30 of 58 votes and was selected to host the 1968 Summer Olympics.
The other proposed cities were: Detroit, USA - 14 votes, Lyon, France - 12 votes and Buenos-Aires, Argentina - only two votes.
It was the first Games in Latin America.

The Games of the 19th Olympiad were officially opened by the President of Mexico Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, at the renovated 83,700-seat Olympic Stadium. A woman lit the Olympic flame for the first time - she was a young Mexican athlete Enriqueta Basilio.
South Africa was banned from participating in the Olympic Games again after protests from African countries because of South Africa's racist policy of apartheid.
The high altitude of Mexico City, at 2240m above sea level, helped achieve strong results in some events. Thus, the incredible jump of 8.90 meters made by Robert BEAMON of the USA beat the 5 sm mark set by American athlete Mike POWELL in 1991.
Richard FOSBURY of the USA introduced a new high-jumping technique called the Fosbury Flop.
Vera CASLAVSKA from Czechoslovakia won 4 gold and two silver medals in Gymnastics.
Japanese gymnast Akinori NAKAYAMA won 4 gold, one silver and one bronze medal.
American swimmer Charles HICKCOX won 3 gold and one bronze medal.
Japanese Sawao KATO won 3 gold and one bronze medal in Gymnastics.
American female athlete Deborah MAYER won 3 gold medals in Swimming.
Drug testing was introduced in 1968.
Tartan, a synthetic material, was first used on athletics tracks.