After the last record of participating countries that was reached in Madrid three years before when 21 countries participated , in this IX edition of the festival the contest reaches a new record of 23 countries with their respective member broadcasters sending their delegations to Buenos Aires . There were no debuting countries , but some of the countries that had withdrawed in previous editions , made their return to the festival
three years before
OTI Festival 1977
OTI Festival 1980