Olympic games mexico 1968. This was also the first example of the olympics exclusively using electronic timekeepin. The altitude proved an advantage in explosive events such as short distance running jumping throwing and weightlifting. Following a summer of increasingly large demonstrations in mexico city protesting the 1968 olympics held in mexico city the mexican armed forces opened fire on october 2 1968 on unarmed civilians killing an undetermined number in the hundreds.
The mexico city games were the 16th occurrence of the modern olympic games. But the rarefied air proved disastrous for those competing in endurance events. They were the first games to use an all weather track for track and field events instead of the traditional cinder track.
Mexico city 1968 olympic games athletic festival held in mexico city that took place october 1227 1968. The choice of mexico city to host the 1968 olympic games proved to be a controversial one because of the citys high altitude 2300m. World record holder ryun had won 47 straight 1500mmiles going into this race and in their previous meetings completely dominated keinothe kenyanfearing r.
It occurred in the plaza de las tres culturas in the tlatelolco section of mexico city. Vera caslavska won seven gold and four silver olympic medals at three different olympic games mexico city 1968. The 1968 summer olympics officially known as the games of the xix olympiad was an international multi sport event held in mexico city mexico from 12 to 27 october.
The events are considered part of the mexican dirty war. The 1968 olympic games in mexico city mexico 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. The photograph taken after the 200 meter race at the 1968 summer olympics in mexico city turned african american athletes tommie smith and john carlos from track and field stars into the center.
The 1968 olympic games in mexico city were the most politically charged olympics since the 1936 games in berlin. It is estimated that 267 were killed and over 1000 were wounded.