Cultural Olympiad

The spirit of the 1968 Cultural Olympiad and many of its elements and themes have inspired more recent versions of the event. One example is the London 2012 version, which involved more than 20 million people and saw over 200 works commissioned from artists of all types over the four-year period.

Smaller in scale, the Mexico 1968 Cultural Olympiad was an expression of national self-confidence. Its diverse programme reflected Mexico’s appreciation of high and popular culture and helped it counter negative, stereotypical views of the country. It was inclusive too, allowing every participating region to offer up examples of their cultural heritage.

A total of 97 countries took part in the 1968 Cultural Olympiad. Events were held across five main cultural themes that ranged from the Olympic Games and Youth to the Olympic Games and the Contemporary World. They included a World Youth Camp, a Festival of the Performing Arts and a World Folklore Festival.

Another component were the 22 sculptures commissioned from artists across the world especially for the Cultural Olympiad. Inspired by the sun, three of them stand outside the Azteca Stadium, the University Olympic Stadium and the Sports Palace. The remaining 19 make up what is known as the Friendship Route, which still stands today, running for 17 kilometres along one of the city’s main ring roads. Following years of neglect, the sculptures were all restored thanks to programmes involving local communities and the public and private sectors. They were officially declared part of Mexico City’s cultural heritage in 2018.

Meanwhile, The Olympics in Mexico, the Official Film of Mexico 1968, received an Academy Award nomination – for Best Documentary Feature at the 1970 Oscars. It was acclaimed for its creative editing and use of the widescreen format, natural sound, crowd noise and slow motion