Essay Of 1968
What makes 1968 such a momentous year for so many? Is it the fact that it touched virtually every person on the entire globe in some form or fashion? Or is it because everyone around the globe was linked together by the progressive chains of change? This new wave of reform hit every nation differently, but elements of it were seen throughout much of the world and Mexico was no different. By hosting the Olympics in ’68, Mexico hoped to establish itself as a stable unified nation that was on par with other enlightened nations of the world. In doing so, Mexico had a lasting effect on the international community in three very different ways: First, was Mexico’s ability to hold such a relatively “peaceful” games during such a turbulent year, followed
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by its stance on the racial issues that were plaguing so many other nations; including the United States, and finally its potency to other interest groups around the world. The Olympic games were a success in a variety of ways, not only for Mexico, but for much of the world.
When Mexico won the bid to host the Olympics of 1968, they achieved it through a serious of deceits and falsehoods.
The fact that Mexican economy was bustling and booming for the most part was true. However, the gap between rich and poor was wider than ever and the Mexican officials needed to hide this fact from the selection committee in order to achieve victory. Another area that Government needed to focus on was the rising student protest around the capital. Like much of the world, Mexican youth were demonstrating the need for social change and reform. Unlike, many of the student protest around the world, the Mexican students protest was crushed during the Tlatelolco massacre. The reasons for this “violent” action by the government are up for debate, however, most historians conclude that the fear of students disrupting Mexico’s most important event, the Olympics, was the actual cause for such a brutal response from the government. This is owed to the fact that Mexican officials had to uphold the “stable” front that they so deceptively perceived to get the bid. The government of Mexico wanted these games to go off without a hitch and did everything in their power to accomplish such and for the most part it worked. The Games were a success of relative proportion. Not only was this attributed to Mexican “stability”, it was also their bridge to the racial
divide.
Racial tensions around the world were a serious problem in two majors places throughout the 1960’s. Most notably in to two places: The United States and the nation of South African. The civil rights movement was going strong in the U.S. and no doubt played a major role in ’68 Olympic Games. On the other front South Africa had adopted a policy of apartheid and had for the most part a completely segregated population. This was a major sticking point to the international olympic committee. How could they allow such a racist nation to participate in games that prompted peace and equality? Similarly, how could black athletes participate in the same peace promoting games with the ever growing civil rights movement in the U.S.? These were issues that the IOC had to address. If they allowed racist South Africa to join, other African nations as well as blacks would boycott that years olympics. Mexico’s response to these issues is noteworthy in itself. A nation of no real racist ideals, did not want to see a nation like South African join in the games while they promoted segregation back home, nor did they want to see the top athletes from the world boycott their precious Olympics. The Mexicans did not want anything to spoil their prestige of a Latin American country holding the Olympic games. Eventually the South Africans were banned and American Black athletes boycott crumbled and a peaceful Games went as planned.
It was what happened at these games that set the stage for certain interest groups to use the Olympics as voice to the world. Black Americans saw the fist of “black power” from sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carols as they took the podium to receive their medals, This act of protest was a moment that captured and demonstrated the need for racial equality all over the world. This was a moment that would take away some of the allure that the nation of Mexico was trying to accomplish, but at the same time it showed a that nation such a Mexico was modern in the fact that it did not discriminate between black and white, as did “other” more developed nations. To other groups, such as, the Mexican students the Olympics showed a different side. One of National interest over personal interest as was demonstrated during the Tlatelolco Massacre. Other interest groups from around the world saw the Olympic games as the symbol it stood for, the gathering of Nations to conduct peaceful contests and demonstrate to the world that harmony could be achieved through sport. It was a time for nations to put their Ideology to the test see who came out on top. This was the case between the Soviet and the Americans throughout the Cold War and still holds true today. What came out of the Mexican Games was simply two weeks of pure sport and competition between civilized nations. One that saw the events of 1968 intertwined throughout the games and after them.
For the most part the Mexican Games of ’68 went off without a hitch, but the aftermath of the games is up for debate. A lot of things went right for the host, such as their ability to show the world that a Latin American nation was modernized enough to hold a successful and safe Olympic Games, that racial tensions could be alleviated through sport, even if only temporarily, and that other self interprets groups had a voice in front of the world. With the whole globe watching, these groups could spread their message ever so subtle. The Mexican games were an initial success, but at the cost of what? What would become of a nation that ultimately lied to get the games? Would the effects of the 1968 Olympic Games effect the nation of Mexico? if so, how much of Mexico’s future disparity can be drawn from it?
by its stance on the racial issues that were plaguing so many other nations; including the United States, and finally its potency to other interest groups around the world. The Olympic games were a success in a variety of ways, not only for Mexico, but for much of the world.
When Mexico won the bid to host the Olympics of 1968, they achieved it through a serious of deceits and falsehoods.
The fact that Mexican economy was bustling and booming for the most part was true. However, the gap between rich and poor was wider than ever and the Mexican officials needed to hide this fact from the selection committee in order to achieve victory. Another area that Government needed to focus on was the rising student protest around the capital. Like much of the world, Mexican youth were demonstrating the need for social change and reform. Unlike, many of the student protest around the world, the Mexican students protest was crushed during the Tlatelolco massacre. The reasons for this “violent” action by the government are up for debate, however, most historians conclude that the fear of students disrupting Mexico’s most important event, the Olympics, was the actual cause for such a brutal response from the government. This is owed to the fact that Mexican officials had to uphold the “stable” front that they so deceptively perceived to get the bid. The government of Mexico wanted these games to go off without a hitch and did everything in their power to accomplish such and for the most part it worked. The Games were a success of relative proportion. Not only was this attributed to Mexican “stability”, it was also their bridge to the racial
divide.
Racial tensions around the world were a serious problem in two majors places throughout the 1960’s. Most notably in to two places: The United States and the nation of South African. The civil rights movement was going strong in the U.S. and no doubt played a major role in ’68 Olympic Games. On the other front South Africa had adopted a policy of apartheid and had for the most part a completely segregated population. This was a major sticking point to the international olympic committee. How could they allow such a racist nation to participate in games that prompted peace and equality? Similarly, how could black athletes participate in the same peace promoting games with the ever growing civil rights movement in the U.S.? These were issues that the IOC had to address. If they allowed racist South Africa to join, other African nations as well as blacks would boycott that years olympics. Mexico’s response to these issues is noteworthy in itself. A nation of no real racist ideals, did not want to see a nation like South African join in the games while they promoted segregation back home, nor did they want to see the top athletes from the world boycott their precious Olympics. The Mexicans did not want anything to spoil their prestige of a Latin American country holding the Olympic games. Eventually the South Africans were banned and American Black athletes boycott crumbled and a peaceful Games went as planned.
It was what happened at these games that set the stage for certain interest groups to use the Olympics as voice to the world. Black Americans saw the fist of “black power” from sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carols as they took the podium to receive their medals, This act of protest was a moment that captured and demonstrated the need for racial equality all over the world. This was a moment that would take away some of the allure that the nation of Mexico was trying to accomplish, but at the same time it showed a that nation such a Mexico was modern in the fact that it did not discriminate between black and white, as did “other” more developed nations. To other groups, such as, the Mexican students the Olympics showed a different side. One of National interest over personal interest as was demonstrated during the Tlatelolco Massacre. Other interest groups from around the world saw the Olympic games as the symbol it stood for, the gathering of Nations to conduct peaceful contests and demonstrate to the world that harmony could be achieved through sport. It was a time for nations to put their Ideology to the test see who came out on top. This was the case between the Soviet and the Americans throughout the Cold War and still holds true today. What came out of the Mexican Games was simply two weeks of pure sport and competition between civilized nations. One that saw the events of 1968 intertwined throughout the games and after them.
For the most part the Mexican Games of ’68 went off without a hitch, but the aftermath of the games is up for debate. A lot of things went right for the host, such as their ability to show the world that a Latin American nation was modernized enough to hold a successful and safe Olympic Games, that racial tensions could be alleviated through sport, even if only temporarily, and that other self interprets groups had a voice in front of the world. With the whole globe watching, these groups could spread their message ever so subtle. The Mexican games were an initial success, but at the cost of what? What would become of a nation that ultimately lied to get the games? Would the effects of the 1968 Olympic Games effect the nation of Mexico? if so, how much of Mexico’s future disparity can be drawn from it?