As if Tlatelolco wasn't enough, the Mexico Summer Olympics of 1968 was the stage of a couple of other political issues, this time regarding the human rights movement. These issues happened near the end of the Games, during the rewarding ceremony.
The best known of these perhaps was the Black Power Salute, one of the most controversial political protest made within the bounds of the Olympic games.
16th of October, 1968-- Tommie Smith and John Carlos, black Americans, and the gold and bronze medalists of the men's 200 meter race made their statement by taking their places in the podium barefooted, and wearing civil rights buttons. When the Star Spangled Banner was being played, they raised their black-gloved fists and lowered their heads-- a deliberate sign of defiance towards the American government at that time. Both athletes were members of the Olympic Project for Human Rights, and their actions shocked the world.
Then IOC (International Olympic Committee) president Avery Brundage, was strongly against this move, stating that political statement had no place in the Olympic Games, especially at its highlights. He immediately responded by suspending both athletes from the U.S. team (though they kept their records), and banning the two from the Olympic Village. Oppositions to the protest claimed that their display was a disgrace to all Americans, though supporters heartily praised the two men for their bravery.
They were not the only ones. Australian sprinter Peter Norman, second placer in the 200 m race and Martin Jellinghaus, member of the German bronze medal-winning 1600 meter relay team showed their support to the civil rights movement and the suspended American runners by wearing the same Olympic Project for Human Rights buttons.
Aside from the Black Power Salute, there was also the case of medal-winning Czechoslovakian gymnast Věrá Cáslavská, who bowed her head and deliberate turned away while the Soviet national anthem was being played, as a silent protest against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia. She was punished by the Soviet government by banning her from all sporting events and international travel for several years.