Mexico+City+1968+5



In the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, there were three major controversies:

1. The open firing of 250+ students at the Plaza of Three Cultures 2. Smith and Carlos "Black Power" protest 3. Mexico City's high altitude and less oxygen

10 days before the Olympics opened, A mass group of students gathered in the Plaza of Three Cultures, protesting against the Mexican Government and their use of funds for the Olympics. That day, the Mexican army surrounded the plaza with troops and open fired upon the protesters, killing an estimated 267 and injuring over one thousand more.Luckily, the games started on schedule.

Mexico City Stadium

Later, two African Americans named Tommie Smith and John Carlos made a scene. Finishing 1st and 3rd in the 200 meter dash, protested during the awards ceremony while the United States national anthem was being played. Wearing black socks and no shoes, they both bowed their heads and raised their arms with black glove on each of the raised hands. This was the Black Power salute given to protest the mistreatment of African Americans in the United States. Officials from the IOC didn't believe the actions displayed the ideals of the games and they were expelled from the games.



Conflicts arose from the fact the Mexico City had a high altitude of 2,300m, which contains air with 30% less oxygen than land at sea level. This greatly benefited those in field events shorter than 400m and resulted in many broken records. On the other hand, countries at a lower elevation had trouble in their long distance and endurance events.

Sources:

**Olympic Games**." __Encyclopædia Britannica__. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 23 Apr. 2008

 "Memorable Olympic Moments: Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Summer 1968." Infoplease. © 2000–2007 Pearson Education, publishing as Infoplease. 22 Apr. 2008 &lt;[|http://www.infoplease.com/spot/summer-olympics-mexico-city.html&gt;.]

John Durant, //Highlights of the Olympics: From Ancient Times to the Present// (New York: Hastings House Publishers, 1973) 185.

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