[1] The Havana World championships were the third straight major fencing event held in the Americas after the 1967 edition in Montreal and the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico.

Cuba gave the competition political overtones, including it in the celebrations for the ten years of the Cuban Revolution.

Fencing was also stopped on 8 October for a commemoration of the anniversary of Che Guevara's death.

[2] The United States, who do not have formal diplomatic relations with Cuba, sent a restricted delegation of 25 fencers.

[3] On sportive terms, the championships were dominated by countries of the Eastern Bloc, especially the Soviet Union, who claimed all three men's team titles.