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Did you know that?
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1996
Did you know that?
** Mexico City was awarded the 1968 Games in 1963.
** The choice of Mexico City to host the 1968 Games was a controversial one
because of the city high altitude - 2240m above sea level - which meant that
air contained 30% less oxygen than at sea level.
** Some medical authorities even forecast possible deaths during the Mexico
Games of 1968 since the venue was at a high altitude, which would affect
competitors in events that required endurance.
** The Mexico Games in 1968 led to records in events that were 400 meters or
shorters, while the long distance events were the slowest ever recorded for
a long time.
** Mexican hurdler Enriqueta Basilio became the first woman to light the
Olympic flame in the stadium during the 1968 Games.
** The Mexico Games in 1968 was the first to conduct sex testing for women.
** Eulalia Rolinska of Poland and Gladys de Seminario of Peru were the first
women to compete in the shooting events during the 1968 Games.
** When American Bob Beamon jumped the record 8.90m in the long jump even in
the 1968 Games, it was beyond the limits of the measuring device in use at
the pit, and a steel tape had to be used. Beamon in fact had added 55cm to
the then existing world record.
** During the 1968 Games, the existing Olympic record was beaten by seven
men in the triple jump, and the world mark was improved on five occasions.
** The 100m sprint for men in the 1968 Games was unique because for the
first time all the eight finalists were black!
** Americans Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who had come first and third
respectively in the 200m sprint in the 1968 Games, raised black-gloved,
clenched fists during the medal ceremony when the anthem was played. For
this action they were suspended and expelled from the Olympic Village.
** American Janice Romary became the first woman to compete in consecutive
Games in 1968. She also became the first woman to carry the flag for her
country in a Games opening ceremony.
** In the 5.5m class yachting event in the 1968 Games, three Swedish
brothers Ulf, Peter and Jorgen Sundelin crewed their boat Wasa IV to any
easy victory, while four Pettersson brothers combined to win Sweden a silver
medal in cycling's team time trial.
** For the first time since 1928, India failed to reach the final of the
men's field hockey event during the 1968 Games.
** Japan who won a bronze medal in the soccer competition in the 1968 Games,
were the first and only Asian team to win a medal and first non-European
team to do so in 40 years.
** The 1968 Mexico Games saw the first drug disqualification, when Swedish
entrant in the modern pentathon, Hans-Gunnar Liljenwall, tested positive for
excessive alcohol.
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