Mexico City 1968

Olympic Games Mexico City 1968 Official Torch

Silver-toned torch with vertical grooves on the torch. The top bears the caption "Mexico 68" carved and traced twice in the metal. Bottom part of the body of the torch wrapped with a black leather handle. Five different torches were created; this torch style was used in the torch relay and on the final leg to light the cauldron. 16.5 inches high.

Designer: James Metcalfe
Manufacturer: Productos Victor S.A. et al.

Fuel: Solid mix of nitrates, sulphurs, alkaline metal carbonates, resins and silicones.

The Mexico City 1968 torch relay followed the course of Christopher Columbus' first voyage to the New World.

Enriqueta Basilio Sotelo became the first woman to light the main cauldron at an Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Start date: August 23, 1968, Olympia, Greece
End date: October 12, 1968, Olympic Stadium, Mexico City, Mexico
First torchbearer: Haris Aivaliotis
Last torchbearer: Enriqueta Basilio Sotelo
Number of torchbearers: 2,778
Relay length: 8411 miles