See also: 1968 Summer Paralympics
The Games of the XIX Olympiad were held in Mexico City in 1968. Mexico City beat Detroit, Buenos Aires and Lyon to host the Games.
| Games of the XIX Olympiad | |
| Nations participating | 112 |
| Athletes participating | 5,530 (4,750 men, 780 women) |
| Events | 172 in 20 sports |
| Opening ceremonies | October 12, 1968 |
| Closing ceremonies | 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 |
Highlights
- Because of the high altitude of Mexico City (2700 m), many endurance athletes have trouble coping with the thin air.
- For the first time, athletes from East and West Germany take part in separate teams, after having competed in a combined team up to 1964.
- US discus thrower Al Oerter, wins his fourth consecutive gold medal in the event to become only the second athlete to achieve this in an individual event.
- Bob Beamon jumps 8.90 m in the long jump, a 55 cm improvement of the World Record that would stand until 1991.
- Dick Fosbury wins the gold medal in the high jump using the radical Fosbury flop technique, which quickly became the dominant technique in the event.
- In the medal award ceremony, two African-American athletes Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze) raise their black-gloved fists as a symbol of Black Power. They are disqualified and banned from the Olympic Games for life.
- Czechoslovakian gymnast Věra Čáslavská wins the hearts of the Mexican crowd and four gold medals.
- US swimmer Debbie Meyer became the first swimmer to win three individual gold medals, in the 200, 400 and 800 m freestyle events.
- The introduction of doping tests results in the first disqualification because of doping: Swedish pentathlete Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall is disqualified for alcohol use.
- John Stephen Akhwari of Tanzania became internationally famous after finishing the marathon in last place despite a dislocated knee.
Medals awarded
See the medal winners, ordered by sport:
Medal count
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References
See also
- Olympic Games
- Summer Olympic Games
- International Olympic Committee
- WikiProject Sports Olympics
- IOC country codes