The 1968 Olympic Games contained plenty of incidents including a student riot before the games started. South Africa's invitation to the games was withdrawn after many countries threatened to walk out if they took part. Many black athletes refused to attend and some that did gave the clenched fist black power salute on the victory podium. George Foreman won the heavyweight boxing gold medal and the high jump gold medal went to Dick Fosbury who introduced the world to his famous Fosbury Flop technique. Usa won 45 golds and the Russians 29.
Russian tanks invade Czechoslovakia.
On 5th January, Alexander Dubcek took over as head of state in Czechoslovakia and heralded a new liberal regime. His attempts to create a more democratic society led to the end of media censorship and more liberty than any other Soviet ruled country. Soon however, the Russians had had enough and in August Warsaw Pact tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia to restore Totalitarianism. Dubcek and his senior ministers were arrested. After the murder of John F. Kennedy in 1963, tragedy struck the family again when his brother Robert also became the victim of an assassin's bullet.