This torch was used in the 1968 Summer Olympics relay that brought theflame to Mexico City. There were five different variations and thisthe 'Type A' version was among the more common. The relay began on August 23 1968 in OlympiaGreece retracing the route taken by ChristopherColumbus to the New World. In all the flame traveled 13620 km over 25 days through the hands of 2778 torchbearers before arriving at Olympic Stadium where NormaEnriqueta Basilio de Sotelo of Mexico was the first woman to ever lightthe Olympic cauldron.

Constructed of silver aluminum with a wooden handle it measures 20.75″ inlength and 4″ at its widest point. The upper metal ring features apattern of six doves and the metallic label at the bottom reads “Mexico”twice. The very bottom of the handle/knob has another label with the "68" Mexico City Games logo and "COMITE ORGANIZADOR DE LOS JUEGOS DE LA XIX OLYMPIADA" (Organizing Committee of the Games of the XIX Olympiad) along with torch designer "M. Villazon." It shows appropriate use from the relay andremains in NM condition with all original elements intact. An iconic memento from the Games that delivered perhaps the most important Civil Rights demonstration in sports history: the famousBlack Power Salute by African-American sprint medalists Tommie Smith and John Carlos.