Centro Deportivo Villa Olímpica

What it was built for. Construction began in 1967 and the complex opened in October 1968 as the athletes' village for the Mexico City Olympic Games. The original site covered nine hectares, with a further 20,000 square metres donated to allow the 29 residential towers to go up.

Why it is where it is. It stands on Insurgentes Sur precisely so that the avenue would connect the athletes with Ciudad Universitaria and the Olympic Stadium. It also sits beside the Cuicuilco archaeological zone and close to the Ruta de la Amistad, the string of monumental concrete sculptures commissioned for the same Games and strung along the southern Periférico — the largest open-air sculpture route of its kind in the world.

What it is now. One of the principal sports centres in the south of the city: football and baseball pitches and a running track, used by the neighbourhood rather than by visitors.

Why a visitor might come. For the 1968 context. Cuicuilco, the Ruta de la Amistad, the Olympic Stadium with its Diego Rivera relief and the university campus are all within a few kilometres of each other on this axis, and together they make a coherent half-day.

Practical notes. Av. Insurgentes Sur s/n, Parques del Pedregal, Tlalpan. The Insurgentes Metrobús runs along the avenue; Metro Universidad, line 3, is the nearest station.