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Mexico City 1968: Oscillating Aspirations

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Keith Brewster

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Abstract

Mexico City’s staging of the Olympic Games in 1968 provided a unique opportunity; a moment when a nation at ease with itself and its place in the world, played proud host to a global celebration of youthful vigour. This study argues, however, that while the cosmopolitan members of the Organising Committee deeply resented international scepticism of Mexico’s ability to stage the Games, they shared a fear that with the eyes of the world upon them, their compatriots would reveal Mexico’s aspirations to first world status to be a fraud. Constantly having to defend its actions against hostile international scrutiny, this domestic dilemma led to the confused international posture that Mexico assumed during the Games. While seemingly eager to sustain an image of modernity and progression, Mexico simultaneously took shelter in its role as a leader of the Third World. Mexico’s oscillation between polarities of economic development was natural, in that it merely mirrored, and arguably continues to mirror, a Mexican society in which both exist.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Brewster K

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: International Journal of the History of Sport

Year: 2010

Volume: 27

Issue: 16-18

Pages: 2748-2765

Print publication date: 13/12/2010

ISSN (print): 0952-3367

ISSN (electronic): 1743-9035

Publisher: Routledge

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09523367.2010.508263

DOI: 10.1080/09523367.2010.508263

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