Munich 1972 Collection

Terrorist attack

On 5 September, eight Palestinian terrorists broke into the Olympic Village, killing two members of the Israeli team and taking nine hostages. In the ensuing battle, all nine Israeli hostages were killed, as were five of the terrorists and one policeman. In defiance of the terrorists, the IOC ordered the competitions to resume after a pause of 34 hours.

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.

Memorable champions

US swimmer Mark Spitz won an incredible seven gold medals and broke seven world records. Yet the media star of the Munich Games was the tiny Soviet gymnast, Olga Korbut, whose dramatic cycle of success in the team competition, failure in the individual competition and renewed success in the apparatus finals captured the attention of fans worldwide.

NOCs 121
Athletes 7,134 (1,059 women, 6,075 men)
Events 195
Volunteers n/a
Media n/a

"The Games must go on !"

The 11 days of these Games were perhaps the greatest Olympic festival ever. However, on the morning of 5 September, the Games were interrupted when eight Arab terrorists, representing the militant group "Black September" entered the Olympic Village, took hostage and then killed 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team- all this only 20km from Dachau. The Olympic Games were suspended for 34 hours and a mass was held in the main stadium to commemorate the victims. But the Games continued at the insistence of the IOC President Avery Brundage, who famously said "The Games must go on !"

Seven gold medals and seven world records for a single man

There were several magnificent sporting performances at the 1972 Games, notably by Mark Spitz who won seven gold medals and broke seven world records.

THE OFFICIALS TAKE AN OATH

For the first time at the Games of the Olympiad an oath is also sworn by an official.

New on the programme

Men's indoor handball and slalom canoeing and kayaking made their first appearance.
The comeback of archery Archery was reintroduced into the programme after an absence of 52 years.

Ceremonies

26 August 1972, Opening Ceremony. Athlet Günter Zahn lights the Olympic Flame.

Official opening of the Games by: President Gustav Heinemann

Lighting the Olympic Flame by: Günter Zahn (athletics, junior 1,500m champion)

Olympic Oath by: Heidi Schüller (athletics)

Official Oath by: Heinz Pollay (equestrian)