08 · 08 · 24

Glorias olímpicas y cine nacional

Rafael Aviña

The modern Olympic Games, held in Paris, are celebrating their 130th anniversary since they were established in 1896 by Baron Pierre de Coubertin. Of course, films documented the triumphs, failures, accidents, great feats, or unusual events, such as the terrorist attack in Munich in 1972, Adolf Hitler's enthusiasm at the Berlin Games in 1936, and the triumph of the black American athlete Jesse Owens that crushed the Aryan-German hope, the boasts of the German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl in Olympia 1936, or the students' massacre in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas in Tlatelolco, shortly before the inauguration of the Mexico 1968 Olympics.

Marathon, a famous film directed by Carlos Saura, was the official movie of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The movie begins with a striking technical and choreographic display, presenting a grand portrayal of Hercules —a mechanical tripod resembling characters from Robocop and Terminator— fighting sea monsters to establish ancient Barcelona. This opening is considered one of the most impressive in Olympic history. A similar memorable moment was witnessed during the 2012 London Olympics, with the remarkable performance of James Bond and the Queen of England, where Daniel Craig starred under the direction of Danny Boyle.

Even more shocking, the personalities gathered during the filming of The Olympics in Mexico, in 1968, directed by Alberto Isaac with the collaboration of Julio Pliego, Rafael Castanedo, Rafael Corkidi, Paul Leduc, Giovanni Korporaal, and Felipe Cazals, with texts by Fernando Macotela and photography by Antonio Reynoso, with the voices of Enrique Lizalde and Roberto Morales. The film won a Special Award from PECIME (Mexican Film Journalists' Association) and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary.

Mexico's Olympics were the first to occur in a Spanish-speaking Latin American country. A total of 172 competitions took place in 20 sports disciplines, including 18 official sports and 2 demonstration sports, in Mexico City, Acapulco, Guadalajara, and Valle de Bravo. 112 countries took part, with 5516 athletes staying in two Olympic Villages: Libertador Miguel Hidalgo (Olympic Village) and Narciso Mendoza (Villa Coapa). The documentary also featured a segment of the "Cultural Olympiad," which was introduced as an alternative event for the first time.

The Olympics in Mexico focuses on moments of national glory: the imposing and solemn entrance of the 20-year-old athlete Enriqueta Basilio, carrying the Olympic Torch —the first woman in the history of the Olympics to do so and light the Olympic cauldron—, after almost two months of the Olympic flame's journey through several countries following Christopher Columbus' route to America. Likewise, the gold medal obtained by Felipe "Tibio" Muñoz in the 200-meter breaststroke; the silver medal obtained by diver Álvaro Gaxiola; the gold medals in boxing for Antonio Roldán and Ricardo Delgado; the bronze medals for Agustín Zaragoza and Joaquín Rocha; the silver medal for Pilar Roldán in fencing; and the silver medal for marathon runner José Pedraza in the 20 km walk.

Some mythical moments were the record of 8.90 meters reached by Robert Beamon in the long jump; the high jump of 2.24 meters, by Richard Fosbury; the sympathy and precision of the platinum blonde, Czechoslovakian Véra Caslavska, in the uneven bars; and, of course, the black American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, gold and bronze winners in the 200 meters race, who, on the medalists' podium, raised their fists and lowered their heads as a sign of solidarity with the Black Power when they heard their national anthem.

"The greatest peaceful gathering of youth that the world has ever seen": these were the words in Lizalde's voice for the narration of one of the most important documentaries of an Olympic Games such as the one held in Mexico in that transcendental year of 1968. "Everything is possible in peace," read the slogan of that year's Olympics. A phrase launched as a showcase for Mexico to the world and that, however, was a severe contrast with the national reality bathed in blood, as a result of that fateful October 2nd, just ten days before the inauguration of the Olympics.

Those 15 glorious days of competition were reduced to four hours, capturing moments of success and also of failure and dignity, such as that of Tanzanian runner John Stephen Akwhari, who, despite a severe injury, completed the marathon race that started in the Zócalo and closed in the Olympic Stadium of Ciudad Universitaria. Isaac's film showed the explosive joy of the audience, the fashions of the time, especially the women's, or the moment when Tibio Muñoz climbs the podium and cries as he listens to the national anthem while watching the ascent of the Mexican flag.

The Olympics were remarkable for the iconic Olympic Route with stunning sculptures along the then state-of-the-art Periférico. The event featured innovative graphics designed by Lance Wyman, the contributions of architect Pedro Ramírez Vázquez, who served as the President of the Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games, and the beautiful Olympic Fanfare composed by Carlos Jiménez Mabarak, known for his work on films like Time to die, Memories of the Future and Poison for the Fairies. This period marked a moment of architectural, sporting, and emotional grandeur, blending mourning, hope, and reconciliation for a better Mexico. The sight of Olympic rings and numerous doves of peace soaring in the sky added to the nostalgic and evocative atmosphere of the closing afternoon.