About the Games (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.

Memorable Champions

U.S. 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 Officials Take an Oath

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

Ceremonies

26 August 1972, Opening Ceremony. Athlete 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)

Officials' Oath by:

Heinz Pollay (equestrian)