Sunday, September 1, 2019

Mexico 68, Retro-Futuristic Olympic Design

                                               
                                           

Gotta love that design...not only because the official logo is one of the finest designs of all the Olympic Games, but because it was an incredibly awesome Olympic experience for me. When I look at the few items i have from 1968 my head swirls with memories that led me to work for CBS News during those games.

One of those memories of mine of how it all began...was Japan. Yes, where the Olympic Games will be held next year in 2020. But the last time the Summer games were held was in 1964. I was not living there then but in 1966 I was. While bike riding around Tokyo to my various English teaching jobs in 1966 the olympic excitement or the olympic spirit must have still been floating around.

I lived in a small Japanese home, 4 1/2 tatami mats, in Roppongi. (That building was torn down to make way for a super large building/city in the sky, Roppongi Hills!!) My bike was old but looked quite spiffy. I was stopped and asked if i would sign autographs at least half a dozen times. The first time it happened i was totally confused. Then with every request, was a bow with the word or words "Olympic" or "You, Olympic lady". Dang the Olympic fever must have spread all over the place and and stayed around for a few years. The Olympics were held there, in Tokyo, in 1964. And in 1966 there were so few foreigners they assumed that i was an athlete. But as i started to say, those folks that stopped me so pleasantly made me think often about the Olympic Games. I also thought about my mom's dear friend, Eleanor Weems who said to me during the Summer of 1960 when my sister Lois and I lived with her family in Long Beach CA to attend LBSC...

"Carole, I hope some day you are able to go to the Olympics...some day."

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