Highest altitude Summer Olympic Games

The Games of the XIX Olympiad were held in Mexico City at 2,250 metres (7,380 ft) above sea level from 12–27 October 1968. Because of the thin air many athletes thought it was inappropriate for the games to be held in Mexico City. However, in some events the altitude was favourable – such as the long jump, in which Bob Beamon shattered the existing record by more than half a metre when he jumped 8.90 metres. It would take another 22 years for Mike Powell to top that mark.

The Mexico Olympics were also the first Olympics televised in colour and the first to have drug testing.

To date these are the only Summer Olympic Games to be held at any significant altitude.