1968 MEXICO CITY OLYMPIC GAMES
The 1968 Summer Olympics were held in . The Games were beset by controversy from the start.
Ten days prior to the Opening Ceremony over 300 students were killed by the army when they conducted a student protest on campus. The Games were for the first time being held at high altitude (2,240 metres) and this affected the long distance events negatively while favoring the sprints, throwing and jumping events. African American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos (with Australian Peter Norman standing with them) gave the raised fist “black power” salute while on the victory dais. They were expelled from the Games by the team.
Highlights of the Games
For the first time East and West Germany competed as separate nations.
The emergence on the African nations in the middle and long distance running events.
Bob Beamon long jumped 8.90 metres and broke the world record by 55cms.
Dick Fosbury won the high jump with a new style dubbed the Fosbury flop.
Australian Highlights
Australian who won Gold medals were Michael Wenden and Lyn McClements (Swimming), Ralph Doubell and Maureen Caird (Athletics)
Preparation of theAustralian Olympic Men’s Basketball Team
The 1968 Men’s Australian Olympic Basketball Team was selected after the Australian Championships in . Carl Rodwell, who was studying and playing college basketball in the , was also selected.
Ken Watson the 1956 Olympic team coach was once again in charge. The team mainly consisted of players from and .
The team trained for one week in Melbourne where they played Western Washington College before moving to Sydney to play NSW and a“Rest of Australia” team prior to departing for the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Monterrey, Mexico.
Team Training Camp Narrabeen, NSW prior to departure (Courtesy P. Byrne)
After the magnificent results in Tokyo four years prior it was disappointing that the Australian team did not have the international preparation and games it needed priorto Mexico. This was to prove a huge disadvantage for the team’s performances in Mexico.
The Australian team as a whole suffered from lack of international competition between 1964 and 1968 and an international competition embargo placed on USA College teams, due to a dispute between the American Athletic Union (AAU) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) further complicated matters as US college teams were not allowed to visit Australia through most of this period.
The Australian Team off to the Gamesin Mexico (Courtesy P. Byrne)
The Olympic Basketball Qualification Tournament
The Olympic Basketball Qualification Tournament was held in Monterrey, Mexico for teams that did not qualify through the zone systems.
After arriving in Mexico City, the team travelled by train to Monterrey.
The 1968 Olympic Team arriving in Monterrey. Ray Watson, Ken Cole, Michael AhMatt (P. Byrne)
Coach Watson commented, “We probably made a mistake in leaving Mexico City so early as we might have been able to arrange scrimmages against the Italians and Mexicans if we had stayed a few days.”
“We were told that the trip (to Monterrey) should take about 8 hours, if the train was not held up by robbers!” commented player Peter Byrne.
The team was housed at the Villa Olympica which was primarily an Extensive Technical College.
Team training in Monterrey (Courtesy P. Byrne)
The conditions in Monterrey were very Spartan and most of the Australian players suffered from stomach complaints (“Montezuma’s Curse”)during the tournament.
The training facility was not air-conditioned and the heat was oppressive which led to the Australians cancelling a number of training sessions. Players had to stand in long queues in the canteen with students as they waited for only Mexican food. The players were housed three to a room. Arthur McRobbie the team manager commented, “Considering the size of the rooms it was overcrowding in its extreme form.” The quarters were very noisy and student parties at night made sleeping more difficult. McRobbie again,“One night in fact some shots were fired, and investigations in the morning yielded information that it was a student letting off steam.”
Rodney Wulff and Albert Leslie were both carrying injuries and this hampered training and ultimately the team’s performance.
The Qualification Tournament initial draw contained six teams: Spain, Poland, Uruguay, Indonesia, North Korea and Australia. South Korea subsequently did not arrive and was withdrawn from the tournament.
Two teams from the five competing would qualify for the Olympic Finals in Mexico City.
Captain Lindsay Gaze leads the team during the Opening Ceremony in Monterrey. He is followed by Ray Watson, Werner Linde, Albert Leslie, Michael AhMatt and Peter Byrne
(Courtesy A. Leslie)
Game 1: Australia 64 v Poland 68 (41-29)
Poland was a difficult team and strong opponents. They had secured 6th place in the Tokyo Olympic Games and were a very good European team.
The Australians started the game very well and established a 41-29 lead at half-time. They were on track for a good win against a good team. They led the Poles by 11 points with ten minutes left in the game. Australia was relying heavily on their US college centre Carl Rodwell who was playing well when he was ruled to have five fouls and had to leave the court.
The Australian Team bench claimed to the officials that in fact Carl only had four fouls. The language difficulties and sub standard refereeing however precluded him from continuing in the game. In the last ten minutes the Poles took advantage of the Aussies lack of height which was further diminished by the fact that Rodney Wulff was unable to play in the game due to an ankle injury.
The Polish team powered home and won the game 68-64. This loss was to do a lot of damage to the Aussies morale let alone their future play in the tournament. After the game the Game Supervisor shrugged his shoulders and said “accidents do happen” in comment on the fouling out of Rodwell. That “accident” was to have deep consequences.
Coach Watson commented, “When we took into account the loss of Rodwell and the inability to replace him effectively due to Rod Wulff’s injury, the number of times that Poland scored from travels, the losing margin of four points could well have been a morale lifting win.”
For Poland,Lopatka (32) and Jurkiewicz (19) were the only scorers in double figures. Gaze (13) and Rodwell (12) led Australia’s scoring.
Australia: Tomlinson 6, Watson 8, Rodwell 12, Ah Matt 2, Cole 7, Byrne 2, Dancis 10, Wulff 2, Gaze 13, Gardiner 2. Free-throws: Australia 9/14 at 64.3%, Poland 10/18 at 55.5%, Fouls: Australia 29(Rodwell 5, Cole 5), Poland 24.
Game 2: Australia 51 v Indonesia 58 (22-32)
Indonesia had played in Yokohama in the Olympic Qualification tournament for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and had won only one game (defeating the Philippines 98-86) while losing eight games. In the same tournament Australia had won eight games and had one loss. Even though it was four years later it was considered that Indonesia had little chance of a win.They were not considered a strong team and the Australians were very much the favourites, particularly after their good effort against Poland. Poland had defeated Indonesia 93-65 so “mathematically” Australia should win.
This was a must win game for the Australians as they could still qualify for Mexico City if they won their remaining games and even perhaps won two of their next three games.
However the Australian Team started very slowly and found themselves down by 10 points rather quickly. At half-time they were in big trouble being down 32-22. The Aussies just could not find their rhythm or teamwork and anxiety on their shooting was leading to missed baskets. Even with many substitutions Australia could not find their shooting range despite getting ample open opportunities. Things were just not happening. The Australian Team shot 22 baskets from 74 attempts (30%) and made 7 from 14 (50%) free-throws. In Olympic competition against quality teams that was not going to win the game for the team. The final score was 58-51 to the Indonesians. The Australians were extremely disappointed. In their minds there was no way they should lose to the Indonesians who had very little experience at international level outside Asia.
Coach Watson again, “Several players seemed out of form and although various substitutions were tried no-one was able to hit the basket. We had plenty of easy shots, sufficient to win with something to spare, but could not make even foul shots……This however, was the one bad game which was black on our record.”
For Indonesia Indarto 18 points and Sony 15 points were the main scorers. For Australia Tomlinson 12 and Dancis 10 were the only players in double figures.
Australia: Tomlinson 12, Leslie 4, Cole 9, Byrne 2, Dancis 10, Wulff 2, Gaze 5, Gardiner 7. Free-throws: Australia 7/12 at 58.3% Indonesia 14/24 at 58.3%, Fouls Australia 26 (Byrne 5, Dancis 5), Indonesia 25.
Players enjoying being spectators (Courtesy P. Byrne)
Game 3: Australia 66 v Spain 85 (28-37)
Spain’s first foray into Olympic competition had been in Rome in 1960 where they played in the Qualification tournament in Bologna along with Australia. Spain won five games in that tournament and qualified for the finals in Rome. They had failed to qualify through the Europe zone in 1964 but they were a quality team. Spain had defeated Indonesia 105-69 so with Australia’s loss to Indonesia the signs were not good for the Australians.
Mathematically Australia could still qualify for the finals if other results went their way.
Against Spain the team played with more spirit. The Spanish were a very strong team and included the 6ft10in centre Cliff Luyk who was playing college basketball in the USA. This player went on to score 25 points in the game. At half-time Spain led 37-28. Nevertheless the Aussies got to within five points midway through the second half. With five minutes to play and down by ninepoints the Australians gambled and went into a full-court zone press. Unfortunatelythe Spaniards were ready for that and blew the game out for a 19 point win…85-66. The Australian’s campaign to qualify for the Olympic Finals in Mexico City was over.
Coach Watson concluded, “The game was a lot closer than the final scores appeared to indicate and in fact was a creditable effort by the team.”
Luyk 25 and Rodriguez 22 points were the main scorers for Spain. Gaze 18 led Australia.
Australia: Tomlinson 5, Watson 11, Rodwell 13, Cole 1, Byrne 2, Dancis 10, Gaze 18, Gardiner 6, Free-throws: Australia 8/14 at 57.1%, Spain 17/28 at 60.7%, Fouls: Australia 38 (Rodwell 5, Byrne 5, Gaze 5) Spain 28.
Relaxing before the game
Left to right: Ray Tomlinson, Lindsay Gaze, Werner Linde, Ken Cole, Carl Rodwell, Mike Dancis
Game 4: Australia 76 v Uruguay 78 (35-35)
The Australians were now out of the Mexico City Olympic Finals but could still do some damage as Spain, Poland and Uruguay were all equal on wins for the tournament, plus the Australians didnot want to come last in the Group nor go through the tournament without a win.
Uruguay had secured 8th place in the Tokyo Olympics (Australia had come 9th). In this Qualification Tournament they had lost to Spain 68-63, beaten Poland 65-63 and Indonesia 96-78 so their form was good.
The Australians started well and led by ten points early in the game. Uruguay came back at the Australians and the game was for the taking by either side as the teams were locked 35 all at half-time. The same pattern emerged in the second half with the teams going basket for basket. The game was in the balance right until the final whistle. The South Americans held on to win 78-76.
This game and result against Uruguay who had defeated Poland and Indonesia demonstrated that Australia could have been much higher placed in the tournament if they had played accordingly.
Arrestia 22 points and Hernandez 17 were the main scorers for Uruguay. Rodwell 14 and Watson 12 led Australia.
Australia: Tomlinson 11, Watson 12, Rodwell 14, AhMatt 7, Cole 8, Byrne 6, Linde 2, Dancis 4, Wulff 2, Gaze 4, Gardiner6. Free-throws: Australia 18/20 at 90%, Uruguay 14/20 at 70%, Fouls: Australia 23, Uruguay 32.
After the heroic performances of the Australian Basketball Team in the 1964 Olympic Finals in Tokyo, the Australian team was to watch the 1968 Olympic Finals in Mexico City from the sidelines.
In the change-room before a game Mike Dancis, Rodney Wulff, John Gardiner andAlbert Leslie (P. Byrne)
Results
Poland 68 def Australia 64(29-41)
Indonesia 58 def Australia 51(33-22)
Spain 85 def Australia 66(37-28)
78 def 76(35-35)
Order of finish: Spain (3-1) Poland (3-1) Uruguay (3-1) Indonesia (1-3)Australia (0-4)
Poland and Spain qualified from the Qualification Tournament played in Monterey to play in the Finals in Mexico City. Poland would go on to secure 6th place in the Olympic Finals.
A foreshadowing event (as a prelude to the Australian Basketball Team’s situation in 1980 in the Moscow Olympics) occurred in the last game of the tournament in Monterrey when Spain played Poland.
A win by would eliminate , and a win by by seven points would eliminate and allow to qualify. With two minutes to go led by 5
points but Spain fought back to one point down. realizing that a loss would eliminate them refused to take a shot and ran out the clock. Spain and Poland thereby qualified for Mexico City.
In his report coach Ken Watson stated, “It should be observed that to qualify through the tournament at Monterrey was very difficult. The 1964 team lost to Uruguay by a small margin as did the 1968 team. Both Spain and Poland were stronger than Uruguay and it would be a reasonable interpretation of results to say that the 1964 team may not have qualified at Monterrey either. The weak result of the 1968 team hinges almost entirely on the loss against Indonesia. The rest of the games were reasonably creditable.”
Australian team Statistics
Scoring: Australia’s main scorers for the tournament were Ray Watson 45 points, Lindsay Gaze 40, Carl Rodwell 39, Ray Tomlinson 26, and Ken Cole 25.
Carl Rodwell finished the tournament as the 9th leading scorer (13.0ppg), Gaze 13th (10.0ppg), Dancis and Tomlinson 19th (8.5ppg) and Watson 22nd (7.8ppg)
Leading individual shooting percentages: Michael Ah Matt 50%, Mike Dancis 50%, John Gardiner 47%, Ray Tomlinson 44% and Carl Rodwell 44%
Leading minutes played: Gaze 130, Cole 115 Watson 114 Rodwell 93
Team shooting: 101/275 at 37%
Team free-throws: 45/64 at 70%
There are no other statistics available from FIBA or Coach Ken Watson’s Report.
Post Monterrey
After the Qualification Tournament in Monterrey the team travelled to Saltillo and Guadalajara to play exhibition games. In Saltillo the team lost a game to Uruguay. In Guadalajara a tournament was arranged between Indonesia, Australia, a team from Mexico City and the leading local team. Team Manager Arthur McRobbie reported that the games, accommodation and events turned into farce as did the team’s attempts to leave Guadalajara first by plane and then by train. “Getting back to Villa Olimpico in Mexico City was like coming home,” reported Arthur McRobbie. “None of us realized how tough it had been until we were afforded the opportunity to re-join the athletes in the Olympic Village in Mexico City”.
The team participated in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. They enjoyed watching a feast of basketball and the Olympic Games themselves. It was a good ending to what had been a harrowing and disappointing trip.
The Creation of the Oceania Zone
Perhaps the biggest single outcome of the Olympic campaign by Australiaand based on Australia’s result in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics was that FIBA agreed to the creation of the Oceania Qualification Zone for Olympic and World Championships. Never again would the Australian Men’s Basketball Team have to qualify through the extremely difficult Olympic Qualification Tournaments.
The Olympic Village
The Miguel Hidalgo Olympic Village was located in the extreme southof the city near the Olympic Stadium. It was built on twenty-two acresof land belonging to the National Public Works and Services Bank.
John Gardiner and Ray Watson at the Olympic Village (P. Byrne)
The Opening Ceremony
Over 7,000 athletes marched in the Opening Ceremony held in the Olympic Stadium. For the first time the Olympic Flame Cauldron was lit by a female when a young Mexican athlete EnriqetaBasilio had the honour. The Games were declared open by President Ordaz of the Republic of Mexico on the 12th of October 1968.
Lindsay Gaze and Ray Tomlinson waiting for the Opening Ceremony to commence (P. Byrne)
Mike Dancis being chaired around the stadium at the 1968 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony (P. Byrne)
Basketball Finals in Mexico City
The finals in Mexico consisted of the first five teams from the Tokyo Olympics, two from Europe, two from Asia, two from Africa, the host country, and two from the Qualification Tournament in Monterrey.
Players to feature in the tournament were Spencer Hayward, Jo Jo White and Charlie Scott from the and KresmirCosic from .
Action in the basketball stadium (IOC)
Olympic Finals in Mexico City final positions
U.S.A.
Yugoslavia
Soviet Union
Brazil
Mexico
Poland
Spain
Italy
Puerto Rico
Bulgaria
Cuba
Panama
Philippines
South Korea
Senegal
Morocco
Rule changes
At the 1968 Olympic Games some of the new rules to be implemented in the future were:
The establishment of a halfway line (and a front and back court).
A team that is fouled in the last three minutes of the game has the option of two free throws or taking the ball out of bounds at the halfway line.
Overview
Australia’s results and performance in the 1968 Olympic Qualification Tournament were a great disappointment to the team and the Australian basketball public. The Australians had done so much in Tokyo four years before to establish Australia’s standing in international basketball.
The players all agreed that they had the talent to repeat the 1964 performance in Monterrey but they just never got the international competition, preparation, teamwork or team resolve to achieve what they wanted.
“Unfortunately not a great campaign for the Australian team!” commented centre Carl Rodwell.
“The Olympic tournament was a disaster with us losing all games played……we were left thinking what might have been,” adds team member Peter Byrne.
It did not add up in many ways. The Australian’s were in front against Poland and the win was there for the taking. They went down to the final whistle against Uruguay. They did not deserve a win against Spain but should have beaten Indonesia. They could have come away with three wins and first place in the tournament yet somehow they did not win a game.
Arthur McRobbie, the Manager, stated in his official report, “The players had a rough and tough journey, but gave unsparingly of their energy and their talents. They had their misunderstandings and their personal upsets but at no stage did they lose sight of the target.”
Coach Ken Watson added in his official report, “Nothing went right for this team. They put up with heat, dysentery, lousy food, dumb Mexican officials, injuries, poor umpiring………and tried to make the best of it. Don’t knock them too much.”
There is no doubt that the team’s preparation was fairly woeful. They had virtually no international games prior to the Olympics, and too short a period for training.
Peter Byrne again. “There was no money for preparation and we all had to raise money to compete in Mexico so there was nothing left for playing against good opposition.”
It seems as if the great lessons from four years before when the team had good training camps, input by visiting American coaches and a series of matches on the way to the Olympic Gameswere forgotten. There were the difficulties caused by the US college ban on teams coming to Australia and that was an important factor in the team’s lack of preparation.
It is no wonder that the 1968 team did not establish a core of teamwork or support for each other. With better preparation there is every possibility the Aussies could have qualified for the Olympic Finals in Mexico City. The whole campaign re-enforced the lack of money and resources the ABU had in those times and the lack of co-operation and cohesion between the States.
Fortunately FIBA ignored the Aussie performance in Mexico and voted for the creation of the Oceania Zone where Australia could qualify for Olympic and World Championships through a zone rather than through a qualification tournament.
Team delegate Al Ramsay (who had been in Tokyo four years before) commented in his report, “Australia has a tremendous task ahead of it, we must plan and act with deliberation…..we must plan a systematic campaign of development which will raise Australia to the heights of which it is truly capable and which it rightly deserves in world basketball.”
The 1968 Australian Olympic Men’s Basketball Team (Courtesy P. Byrne)
Left to right: Ken Watson (Coach) Ken Cole, John Gardiner, Ray Tomlinson, Lindsay Gaze, Rodney Wulff, Ray Watson, Carl Rodwell, Werner Linde, Stu Inman (Guest advisor) Mike Dancis,Albert Leslie, Michael AhMatt, Peter Byrne.
Coach: Ken Watson (Vic) Manager: Arthur McRobbie (WA)
Referee: Les Gough (NSW)Delegate: (NSW)