XIXTH OLYMPIAD-1968-MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

XIXTH OLYMPIAD-1968-MEXICO CITY, MEXICO

Total distance: 1,620 km (including transport by boat)
Distance covered: on foot 2,500 km
Countries crossed: Greece, Italy, Spain, Canary Islands, San Salvador (Bahamas), Mexico
Number of torchbearers: 2,778 (excluding escort)
Final torchbearer: Enriqueta Basilio, Mexican. Champion in the 400m and 800m hurdles. The first woman to light an Olympic cauldron.

The 1968 Olympic Torch Relay began in Olympia, as past relays had. Leaving Athens, the flame was taken to Genoa, Italy, birthplace of Christopher Columbus, by the Greek destroyer 'Navarinon'.

The flame journeyed across the Atlantic Ocean, retracing the route of Columbus' voyages to the New World. At Vera Cruz, it was brought ashore by a relay of 17 swimmers. At the end of the Olympic Torch Relay, Enriqueta Basilio became the first woman to carry the flame and light the cauldron. Also for the first time, the Olympic flame was used at cultural events. The relay was 13620 kilometres, 11090 of which were on water. Escorted by runners, cyclists, press and vehicles, 2778 torchbearers ran with the Flame.

Photo: Mexico City 1968 Olympic Torch

Mexico City 12 October 1968. Opening ceremony: the Mexican athlete Enriqueta Basilio de Sotelo lit the Olympic cauldron. Credit : IOC/Olympic Museum collections

Mexico City October 1968. The Aztec stadium. Credit : IOC/Olympic Museum collections

Mexico City 12 October 1968. Opening ceremony: the Olympic flag is handed over to Mr Corona del Rosal, Mayor of Mexico City, by the Mayor of Tokyo in the presence of IOC President Mr Avery Brundage.Credit : IOC/Olympic Museum collections

Mexico City 1968. The stands for the public and the press in the Olympic Stadium, modified by A. Perez Palacios. Credit :IOC Olympic Museum collections/MOLINA Saul