Getting the Olympics to come to Mexico was a big deal. Mexico was determined to show itself a modern country, with an indigenous culture but a part of the modern world. Well sometimes the modern world brings with it some baggage. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Mexico’s many stamp issues leading up to the games feature artwork by famed muralist Diego Rivera. His work is both modern in the cubist style and often distinctly political. There was a movement in Mexico at the time called Mexicanidad that tried to get away from Spanish colonial culture and instead base culture on the indigenous people. Mexicans like Rivera were forefront in bringing this sensibility to the world stage. It is a testament to how widespread the movement that the right of center Mexican government chose this style to present.
Todays stamp is issue C337, a 2 Peso airmail stamp issued by Mexico on March 21st, 1968. This stamp featured athletes playing volleyball and was part of a four stamp issue. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 30 cents used.
Mexico City was awarded the Olympics beating out Detroit, USA and Lyon, France. It was a conscious decision to feature a third world city. The Olympic Committee was under the very traditional leadership of Avery Brundage. He was very opposed to the commercialization and pollicization of the Olympics. This was thought by some to be unrealistic and even classist. Perhaps, but that was the original idea of the modern Olympics, See https://the-philatelist.com/2019/02/07/1924-paris-olympics-the-last-of-the-modern-olympics-that-paid-homage-to-the-ancient-greeks/ .
Mexico was pressured heavily by the left leading up to the games. Many strikes suddenly popped up, with unions sensing this was the time to ask for more. Students then occupied a Mexico City university wanting revolution, not Olympics. They were in Latin America not Berkley and the army quickly surrounded them and mowed down hundreds and arrested the rest. Bet Nixon wished he could get away with that.
Once the games began, it was the turn of American blacks to distract from Mexico’s fresh face. The many black athletes started using raised fists during medal ceremonies to protest what they felt were the plight of blacks in the USA. Blacks in the USA were much better off than African blacks or even the average Mexican, but the cameras were there. Avery Brundage thought the display terribly disrespectful to the athletes own country and banned them permanently from the Olympics. Brundage’s old school tactics were not the future. Politics and professional athletes were the future. After offending Jews by continuing the 72 games after the Palestinian attacks, he was put out to pasture and accused of antisemitism. Don’t feel too bad for Mr. Brundage, the widower retired to a German spa town marrying a German Princess less than half his age. He spent his last years spending quickly his vast fortune.
Well my drink is empty, and I will pour another and toast the original idea of the Olympics, gentleman getting stronger physically and spiritually through physical competition. It can be no surprise that a stamp collector will commiserate with the old school among us. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.