Munich 1972: inspired by openness and nature, overshadowed by tragedy

These objectives were embodied in the Olympic Park design, which connected the city’s existing green spaces to form a continuous stretch of parkland offering a range of sporting facilities close to each other.

However, this and other aspects of the Munich Games pale in significance with the terrorist attacks of 5 September.

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 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!"

The Olympic Park

Five decades after the 1972 Olympic Games, the Munich Olympic Park is a world-renowned leisure and event centre. It has received around 230.4 million visitors since the 1972 Games. The park is colourful, liveable and cosmopolitan in appearance, with its sports and action sports events, music and cultural events, from summer open-air events in the Olympic Stadium to concerts in the Olympic Hall, exhibitions in the Small Olympic Hall and festivals in the outdoor facilities.

What makes the Munich Olympic Park unique is its outstanding architecture and the way it is embedded in the landscape. The architects’ principles when planning the site were: designing a Games of short distances, where the venues were to symbolise democracy and freedom in the form of open (Olympic Stadium) and bright buildings with large glass surfaces (e.g. Olympic Hall), in the middle of greenery and in harmony with nature. Finally, the Olympic facilities were integrated into an 850,000 square metre park with mounds and a very beautiful, artificially curved lake.

In addition to its international significance as an event and leisure centre, the Olympic Park is an important economic factor for the Bavarian capital. Major events such as 34 world championships, 21 European championships and over 100 German championships and the 2002 European Athletics Championships, the UEFA Champions League Festival, including the women's final in 2012, the X Games Munich 2013 and, most recently, the celebrated European Championships 2022, have generated and continue to generate positive impact on the retail, hotel and catering sectors.

Urban development

The staging of the Olympic Games accelerated planned urban improvements in the Bavarian capital, now one of the world’s most desirable cities to live in and a place that rates highly for business investment and development prospects. Those improvements were carefully thought out and reflected the idea of different urban functions dovetailing together. This explains the creation of pedestrianised areas between buildings and the separating of pedestrian and motorised traffic in the Olympic Village, among other innovations.

Infrastructure such as the Olympic Park addressed the lack of suitable sports facilities for Munich’s fast-growing population. Meanwhile, the city’s road and public transport networks were upgraded. The S-Bahn suburban rail system was completed along with Munich’s first two subway lines, and new expressways and ring roads were built, helping to reduce traffic congestion. Other developments included the restoration of the old town and new underground car parks, schools, a shopping centre and housing, with the Olympic Village.

Lasting tributes

The victims of the terrorist attack carried out by Black September are remembered for posterity in the Olympic Park, where a plaque was installed outside the Olympic Village apartments where they were taken hostage. A multimedia memorial to the victims was also opened in the park in 2017, on the 45th anniversary of the attack. The park is home to a sculpture dedicated to the victims, who are remembered by another sculpture in Tel Aviv. There is also an annual bicycle tour from Munich to the sites of the assassinations.  Filmmakers have also portrayed the tragedy, with the Steven Spielberg feature film Munich and the 1999 documentary One Day in September both earning critical praise and awards.

For a long time, a lot of information remained in the dark and the events of 5 September 1972 were not entirely processed. This created pain, doubt and uncertainty in particular for the families and friends of the victims. In 2022, a commission was set up to shed light on all the details surrounding the actions of state agencies.

On the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of the tragedy, two ceremonies were held in remembrance of the victims, one in Germany and one in Israel. These were attended by the families of the victims, the president of Israel and the IOC President. The ceremony in Germany also saw the attendance of the president of the country. In addition, the IOC honoured the victims with a moment of silence during the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. 5 September 1972 is still considered as the darkest day in Olympic history.

Sporting legacies

German sport has benefitted from advances in sports science and increased funding and support since the Olympic Games Munich 1972, which has translated into greater success at the highest level for the country’s athletes. The creation of the Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe (German Sports Aid Foundation) in 1967 and the Bundesinstitut für Sportwissenschaft – BISp (Federal Institute for Sport Science) three years later were landmark moments. Both continue to operate today, providing German athletes with detailed scientific information and financial backing that has allowed them to improve their performance levels and devote more time to training and competition. Such support has enabled Germany to emerge as one of the world’s leading sporting nations.

Waldi the mascot

Munich 1972 is also remembered for the appearance of the first official Olympic mascot: a Dachshund by the name of Waldi, who had a light blue head and tail and a multi-coloured striped body. Available in many different forms, including puzzles and cushions, the canine mascot proved popular, with around two million Waldis being sold when he first appeared on the market. Official mascots are now a feature of every Olympic Games.

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