Munich 1972

Terrorist Attack

On 5 September, eight Palestinian terrorists, representing the militant group "Black September”, broke into the Olympic Village, killing two members of the Israeli team and taking nine hostages—all this only 20km from Dachau. In the ensuing battle, all nine Israeli hostages were killed, as were five of the terrorists and one policeman.

The Olympic Games were suspended for 34 hours, and a mass was held in the main stadium to commemorate the victims. In defiance of the terrorists, the Games continued at the insistence of the IOC President Avery Brundage, who famously said, "The Games must go on!"

Highlights

All other details of the Munich Games pale in significance, but it did have its highlights. The Munich Games were the largest yet, setting records in all categories, with 195 events and 7,134 athletes from 121 National Olympic Committees.

Debuts and Firsts

Men’s indoor handball, slalom canoeing and kayaking all made their Olympic debuts. West German Liselott Linsenhoff, competing in the dressage event, became the first female equestrian to win a gold medal, and archery returned to the Olympic programme after a 52-year absence.