Reflecting on the 1968 Winter Olympics: A Legacy of Athletic Triumphs and Controversies

 

The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the Games of the X Olympiad, was a multi-sport event that took place in Grenoble, France, from 6 to 18 February 1968. This was the first time that the Winter Olympics was held in France, and it marked an important milestone in the history of the Olympic Games. 35 countries participated in the 1968 Winter Olympics, with over 1,100 athletes competing in 35 events across 6 sports, including Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, ice hockey, Nordic combined, and ski jumping.

One of the highlights of the 1968 Winter Olympics was the dominant performance of French skier Jean-Claude Killy. Killy won three gold medals in the downhill, slalom, and giant slalom events, becoming one of the most decorated athletes of the games. In ice hockey, the Soviet Union continued their dominance in the sport, winning their second consecutive gold medal, while the United States took home the bronze.

Despite the impressive athletic achievements, the 1968 Winter Olympics was not without its controversies. The politically charged atmosphere of the time was reflected in the boycott of the games by several countries, including East Germany, Czechoslovakia, and North Korea, in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Czechoslovakia. Additionally, the figure skating event was marred by a judging controversy, with allegations of bias leading to a change in the scoring system for future competitions.

Despite these controversies, the 1968 Winter Olympics has left a lasting legacy on the city of Grenoble and the world of sports. Many of the facilities built for the games continue to be used for sports and recreation, and the games helped to increase the popularity of winter sports, particularly in France. The 1968 Winter Olympics also marked an important milestone in the history of the Olympic Games, as it demonstrated the power of sports to bring people together, despite political tensions and controversies.

In conclusion, the 1968 Winter Olympics was a significant event in the history of the Olympic Games and sports. Featuring dominant performances, controversies, and a lasting legacy on the host city and the world of sports, the 1968 Winter Olympics remains an important chapter in the history of the Olympic Games.

Honey

"Honey", also known as "Honey (I Miss You)", is a song written by Bobby Russell. He first produced it with former Kingston Trio member Bob Shane. Then he gave it to American singer Bobby Goldsboro, who recorded it for his 1968 album of the same name, originally titled Pledge of Love.

The song's narrator mourns his deceased wife, beginning with him looking at a tree in their garden, remembering how "it was just a twig" on the day she planted it. This single was released February 17, 1968 and a US No. 1 the week of April 7, 1968.

Honey

See the tree, how big it's grown

But friend, it hasn't been too long

It wasn't big

I laughed at her, and she got mad

The first day that she planted it

Was just a twig

Then the first snow came

And she ran out to brush the snow away

So it wouldn't die

Came runnin' in all excited

Slipped and almost hurt herself

And I laughed 'til I cried

She was always young at heart

Kinda dumb, and kinda smart

And I loved her so

And I surprised her with a puppy

Kept me up all Christmas eve

Two years ago

And it would sure embarrass her

When I came in from workin' late

'Cause I would know

That she'd been sittin' there and cryin'

Over some sad and silly late, late show

And honey, I miss you

And I'm bein' good

And I'd love to be with you

If only I could

She wrecked the car, and she was sad

And so afraid that I'd be mad

But what the heck

Though I pretended hard to be

Guess you could say she saw through me

And hugged my neck

I came home unexpectedly

And caught her cryin' needlessly

In the middle of the day

And it was in the early spring

When flowers bloom, and robins sing

She went away

And honey, I miss you

And I'm bein' good

And I'd love to be with you

If only I could

One day while I was not at home

While she was there, and all alone

The angels came

Now all I have is memories of honey

And I wake up nights

And call her name

Now my life's an empty stage

Where honey lived, and honey played

And love grew up

And a small cloud passes overhead

And cries down on the flower bed

That honey loved

And see the tree, how big it's grown

But friend, it hasn't been too long

It wasn't big

And I laughed at her, and she got mad

The first day that she planted it

Was just a twig

Source: Musixmatch

1968 Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes was released on February 8, 1968 in the United States and was a commercial success, gaining $32,589,624 at the international box office. The film was ground-breaking for its prosthetic makeup techniques by artist John Chambers, and was well received by critics and audiences, launching a film franchise,[4] including four sequels, as well as a short lived television show, animated series, comic books, various merchandising, and eventually a remake in 2001 and a new film to be released in 2011. Roddy McDowall, in particular, had a long-running relationship with the Apes series, appearing in the original series of five films (one only via stock footage from an earlier film), and also in the television series.

In 2001, Planet of the Apes was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

1968 Winter Olympics

The 1968 Winter Olympics, officially known as the X Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1968 in Grenoble, France and opened on February 6. Thirty-seven countries participated. Norway won the most medals, the first time a country other than the USSR had done so since the USSR first entered the Winter Games in 1956.

Frenchman Jean-Claude Killy won three gold medals in all the alpine skiing events. In women's figure skating, Peggy Fleming won the only United States gold medal. The games have been credited with making the Winter Olympics more popular in the United States, not least of which because of ABC's extensive coverage of Fleming and Killy, who became overnight sensations among teenage girls.

The year 1968 marked the first time the IOC first permitted East and West Germany to enter separately, and the first time the IOC ever ordered drug and gender testing of competitors.

1968 Viet Cong execution

February 1, 1968 –  A Viet Cong officer named Nguyễn Văn Lém is executed by Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, a South Vietnamese National Police Chief. The event is photographed by Eddie Adams. The photo makes headlines around the world, eventually winning the 1969 Pulitzer Prize, and sways U.S. public opinion against the war.