Photography Enriqueta Basilio heading to the Olympic cauldron (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Enriqueta Basilio would be in charge of carrying the Olympic fire and lighting the cauldron of the Ciudad Universitaria stadium, starting the 1968 Mexico Olympics, a fact that would mark a before and after in the history of games and in the fight for gender equality in the twentieth century.
Enriqueta Basilio in a journalistic note Cover of the newspaper (SIGLO XX) by El Sol de MéxicoFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Mexico was going through its own career to position itself as a country closer to progress among the so-called "First World" countries, moving away from the image of backwardness to which it was designated according to the standards that economic ideologies imposed at that time.
Photography negative Olympic Games (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Internally, the country lived the "Mexican miracle". Its successful diplomatic relations would gain its place as the venue for the Olympic Games, becoming the first Latin American nation to host countries from both blocs.
Enriqueta Basilio in a journalistic note Cover of the newspaper (SIGLO XX) by ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
With cutting edge ideas as objective, Mexico would surprise the world. These were the first Games to be broadcast in color, scientific methods were used to measure the effects of altitude on athletes, and anti-doping controls were carried out also for the first time.
XIX Olympic Games logo image (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The design of the logo and the typography of Mexico 68 would go down in history as one of the most successful in the use of concentric lines is the fortunate fusion of Huichol art with indigenous and mestizo Mexican roots, combined with modern op art proposals.
To integrate the representation of all countries, a Cultural Olympiad was organized, also for the first time, presenting artistic events, such as theater, music, or a representative sculpture of different countries that would become part of a corridor named as the Friendship Route.
Friendship Route
Friendship Route
Friendship Route
With cultural activities from around the world, Mexico would show its desire to make the Olympic Games an inclusive party. Not all countries could compete based on the same economic and sporting conditions, but they could present a unique cultural contribution.
Cultural Olympics Notes (SIGLO XX) by La PrensaFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Cultural Olympics Notes (SIGLO XX) by El Sol de MéxicoFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Photograph protest against the Vietnam War (SIGLO XX) by Archivo La PrensaFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The changes, the protests, the struggles and the reflections were part of what came to be known as the Cultural Revolutions of 1968. The student movements, as well as the demonstrations for Civil, Racial and Gender Rights were signs of imminent ruptures. There would be no going back.
Journalistic note “Black Power” Tommie Smith and John Carlos (SIGLO XX) by El Sol de MéxicoFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The Olympics in Mexico would be a watershed in history. An event of a cluster of "first times" but above all, they will be remembered for the conciliatory desire and respect for human rights. How can we forget the black power protest gesture on the Olympic podium, for example.
Photography negative Parents in support of the student demonstration (SIGLO XX) by Archivo La PrensaFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Just a few months before, the search for better social and economic conditions would cause, also in Mexico, student demonstrations that the government would put an end to through the force of the army, darkening the image that this country had been building.
Photography negative protests (SIGLO XX) by Archivo La PrensaFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The most serious point of the conflict occurred on October 2, 1968, when the Army violently dissolved a student protest in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco.
Photography National Strike Council of the UNAM (SIGLO XX) by Archivo La PrensaFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The presence of women in university life was low. However, many women would join the student protests, echoing the demands of the feminist movements of the moment, and also uniting with the mothers who supported their children.
Enriqueta Basilio (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
This was the country of Enriqueta Basilio, a twenty-year-old (b. 1948) national champion in the eighty meter hurdles category. When it was published that Enriqueta would be in charge of lighting the Olympic Cauldron, there were dissenting voices regarding the fact that she
was a woman.
Enriqueta Basilio in competition Mexico-Cuba Athletic Meeting (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The runner, who had only participated internationally in the Pan American Games in Winnipeg and a competition in Cuba, received the proposal to light the Olympic Cauldron by the Organizing Committee, thus changing the scheme of a man in charge of this task.
Enriqueta Basilio with the Olympic Torch (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Entrusting the Olympic fire to a Latina broke the paradigms of a patriarchal tradition: Pedro Ramirez Vazquez, president of the Organizing Committee of Mexico 68, recalled that Basilio was selected for being a worthy representative of the Mexican female figure.
Enriqueta Basilio with the Olympic Torch (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
The steps to the cauldron were built to the measure and rhythm of his step; the torch she would carry, smaller in size. At the time of the ceremony, it would occur to her to wear her white training clothes, since the organizers forgot the uniform they had planned.
Olympic fire on the esplanade of the Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacán. (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Symbolically, the Olympic fire that had traveled from Europe following the same route taken by Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes, stayed in Teotihuacan before making the final relay to the Olympic Stadium.
Enriqueta Basilio with the Olympic Torch (SIGLO XX) by El Sol de MéxicoFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
On Saturday October 12, she entered the University Olympic stadium and approached the steps. As she described: "When I set foot on the first step, I began to climb without seeing or hearing anything; I lost track; I concentrated: I closed my mind to only think about what I had to get to”.
Negative of photography Enriqueta Basilio in the Olympic cauldron (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
"Queta" Basilio was not told what she had to do once she reached the last of the 92 steps. Without realizing how great her contribution would be, she greeted the world through the cardinal points, an act proposed by herself. Never before had an athlete performed a ritual of such importance.
Enriqueta Basilio at the Mexican Olympic Committee ceremony (SIGLO XX) by Archivo ESTOFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Over time, Enriqueta Basilio's contributions were established in the hearts of women. In her fight for equality, and as a factor of change in society; she became a symbol for breaking old customs. On October 26, 2019, she passed away in Mexico City.
Enriqueta Basilio (SIGLO XX) by Archivo La PrensaFototeca, Hemeroteca y Biblioteca Mario Vázquez Raña
Two years after her death, the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) named an asteroid in honor of this Mexican athlete in recognition of her contribution to the figure of equality between men and women, as well as her role in the sport's history.
Curatorship, research and Texts:
Jimena Espejo Real.
General coordination:
Dr. Marina Vázquez Ramos.
Investigation:
Arq. Irina Escartín Arciniega.
Yolanda Ramos Ortiz.
Translation to English:
Jimena Espejo Real.
French translation:
Jimena Espejo Real.
media design:
Yolanda Ramos Ortiz.
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