The Mysterious Case of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Torches

The Mysterious Case of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Torches

by Stratos Klimou

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s is well known to Olympic Games memorabilia collectors, the 1968 Olympic Torch Relay was unique because of the number of different torch models that were used on the route from Ancient Olympia to Mexico City [Figure 1]. The reason for the existence of more than one type of torch in 1968 was the poor design of the original torch combined with the ill-chosen fuel mix that was used. The first problems occurred immediately after the torch’s lightning. Because of its design and the inappropriateness of the aluminum alloy used in its construction, the torch (Type 1) overheated, making it impossible for torchbearers to carry it. This problem was quickly solved [Figure 2] by the addition of amianthus (asbestos) rope (Type 2) and leather (Type 3).

Unfortunately, the problems were just beginning.

The top of the torch, which was somewhat thinner due to its design, sometimes melted [Figure 3], causing the hot aluminum to travel down the torch’s ribbed shaft threatening to burn the torchbearer’s hand.

As if this were not enough, when the torch relay arrived in Barcelona, Spain, in some cases there were actual explosions [Figure 4] at the moment when the flame was transferred from the active

Figure 2. The original aluminum-clad torch was too hot for torchbearers to hold. As early as the Torch Lighting Ceremony at Ancient Olympia, the torch was wrapped with amianthus cord (shown here) to solve the problem.

Figure 1. (left to right) 1968 Torch Types 4, 3, 6 (newly discovered), 1 and 5.

torchbearer to his replacement, injuring several athletes. Ricard Fernandez Valenti’s online blog of 27 August 2016 tells of this incident:

At the height of Carrer de Tuset (a major street in Barcelona) there was an incident in the relay between Mariana Valls (son of Fermín Mariana, president of the Barcelona Athletics Federation) and

Figure 3. The thin aluminum skin at the top of the torch was prone to melting. This is particularly apparent in the enlarged photo at right where the top half of the letters “EXIC” has completely melted away.

Figure 4. Sometimes a torch would explode when the flame was transferred from one torch to another. Shown here in Barcelona: (left) the flame being passed; (right) the torch has exploded, slightly injuring the torch bearers.

Note the torch lying on the pavement at bottom right!

the former international athlete and Olympian Gregorio Rojo. The torch exploded at the moment the flame was being passed to the latter, because the fuel being used to prevent extinguishing of the flame could explode due to its volatility. Fortunately, both suffered only minor injuries.* This is when the previously lost sixth type of Mexico 1968 Olympic torch first appeared. In order to avoid the problems of torches melting and exploding, the Spanish Olympic Committee created

Figure 5. The new style torch commissioned by the Spanish Olympic Committee was used during events with large crowds and on ceremonial occasions. This Type 6 torch was only used during certain portions of the relay in Spain.

a new type of torch (Type 6), which seems to have been used only during official moments of the torch relay to avoid bad publicity and to prevent accidents among large crowds [Figure 5].

This torch [Figure 6], made of steel and bronze, weighs 1,200g and is 60cm long and 18cm wide. The handle is made of steel partially covered with leather, and on it are three copper rings. Inscribed on the top ring are the five Olympic rings while “MEXICO 68� is engraved on the bronze bowl. Inside the bowl, there is a removable cap that reveals the

Figure 6. The Type 6 torch, disassembled.

The wick, extending from the end of the shaft, would protrude into the base of the bowl.

The adjacent cap served to protect the wick when not in use.

wick (a long piece of rope that after fifty years still smells oily) for the torch lighting. As you can see in Figure 6, this torch can be disassembled.

This specific type of torch was used only during the Spanish leg of the relay, as the problems were later resolved by the use of the other two torch types (Types 4 and 5 shown in Figure 1) that were made of steel and wood.

What is very strange about the Type 6 torch is that for so many years, it was in front of us in photos and also imprinted on the medal issued in copper and silver for the 1968 torch relay Figure 7. The special Torch Relay medal created for the Spanish portion of the passage through Spain [Figure 7]. 1968 relay features the Type 6 torch, which was only used in Spain.

Yet none of us wondered about A year later, in October 2018, the torch came this unknown object that appears not only in the into my actual possession. Again, I posted details hands of torchbearers but also in the hands of the about it along with photos of the aforementioned president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, and medal that was issued specifically for the 1968 torch later of the International Olympic Committee, Juan relay passage through Spain. In that post I suggested Antonio Samaranch [Figure 8]. It took fifty years for that “this particular kind of torch, which was used one of these torches eventually to turn up at an only for the Spanish part of the relay, was made auction in Spain and then to pass almost unnoticed, because of the problems the aluminum torches being bought at a degrading price by a collector caused.” The general reaction from collectors was friend of mine (who offered it to me for an exthat the torch was not real, had no connection to the change), before finally finding its place in Olympic 1968 Olympic torch relay, and that perhaps somehistory, although even that part took a while. one had created it based on the medal’s design.

As I am very curious about unusual Olympic I didn’t give up, however, and continued searchfinds, when I first heard about this torch from my ing on the net for any kind of information about the friend in September 2017, I asked him to send me Mexico 1968 torch relay that I could find. Finally, I a photo of it, which I posted on Facebook. At that came across a photo of Juan Antonio Samaranch time I asked the collectors’ community for any kind holding this specific type of torch! At that point, I of information about it with no luck. realized that all these years, the image of this strange torch had been there in three other photos of the torch relay, but none of us had ever wondered about it.

Figure 8. J.A. On 3 January 2019, I again posted pictures of the Samaranch, then torch along with the confirming photos from the president of the torch relay and those of the medals with the title: AN Spanish Olympic UNKNOWN TYPE OF MEXICO 1968 OLYMPIC Committee, TORCH IS CERTIFIED!!! After seeing this evidence, receiving the collectors finally accepted its existence and authenType 6 torch during ticity. Discoveries like this are one of the joys of ceremonies in collecting Olympic memorabilia. Who knows what Barcelona. other treasures remain to be found by curious collectors! *http://eltranvia48.blogspot.com/2016/08/