1972 Summer Olympics

See also: 1972 Summer Paralympics

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The Games of the XX Olympiad were held in 1972 in Munich, West Germany. In the bid to organise the Olympics, Detroit, Madrid and Montreal were beaten.

Games of the XX Olympiad
Nations participating	121
Athletes participating	7,123 (6,065 men, 1,058 women)
Events	195 in 23 sports
Opening ceremonies	August 26, 1972
Closing ceremonies	September 11, 1972
Officially opened by	Gustav Heinemann
Athlete's Oath	Heidi Schüller
Judge's Oath:	Heinz Pollay
Olympic Torch	Günther Zahn

Table of contents

1 Highlights 2 Medals awarded 3 Medal count 4 References 4.1 Internal links 4.2 External links 4.3 Bibliography

Highlights

• On September 5, Palestinian terrorists killed 2 Israeli athletes and took 9 hostage. After a failed rescue attempt, all hostages and all but three of terrorists were killed. For more, see Munich massacre.
• All Olympic events were suspended for one day after the terrorist action became known. They were continued a day later, although some athletes decided to leave Munich.
• Mark Spitz set seven World Records to win a record seven gold medals in one Olympics, bringing his total to nine.
• Lasse Virén of Finland won the 5000 and 10000 m (the latter after a fall), a feat he would repeat in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Olga Korbut, a tiny Soviet gymnast, became a star after failing to win the individual all-around after a fall, but winning two gold medals in the apparatus events.
• Valeri Borzov wins both the 100 m and 200 m on the track.
• Australian swimmer Shane Gould wins three gold medals and two silver.
• Handball (last held in 1936) and Archery (last held in 1920) return as Olympic sports after a long absence.
• White water canoeing is held for the first time at the Olympics.
• For the first time, the Olympic Oath is also taken by a representative of the referees.
• In basketball, the United States' Olympic winning streak, which started in 1936, was ended. The final game against the Soviet Union ended in a victory for the Russians, but was surrounded by controversy. The US complained that the clock had been improperly restarted at the end of the game and refused to accept the Silver Medal.
• On September 11, a small plane was stolen in Stuttgart and authorities received information that Arab terrorists were planning to drop a bomb on the final ceremonies. IOC officials and Chancellor Willy Brandt, who were attending the ceremonies, were informed. Defense minister Georg Leber had two fighter planes follow the stolen plane, with the intent of shooting it down should it approach Munich. Radar contact to the plane was lost. A short while later, radar contact to an unknown plane was established, but it turned out to be a civilian passenger aircraft. The stolen plane was never found.
• Badminton and Water Ski are the demo sports.

Medals awarded

See the medal winners, ordered by sport:

• Archery
• Athletics
• Basketball
• Boxing
• Canoeing
• Cycling
• Diving
• Equestrianism
• Fencing
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Handball
• Hockey
• Judo
• Modern Pentathlon
• Rowing
• Shooting
• Swimming
• Volleyball
• Water Polo
• Weightlifting
• Wrestling
• Yachting

Medal count

Pos

Country

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Total

References

Internal links

• Olympic Games
• Summer Olympic Games
• International Olympic Committee
• WikiProject Sports Olympics
• IOC country codes

External links

• IOC Site on 1972 Summer Olympics

Bibliography

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Summer Olympics

1896 | 1900 | 1904 | 1906 | 1908 | 1912 | 1920 | 1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012

Winter Olympics

1924 | 1928 | 1932 | 1936 | 1948 | 1952 | 1956 | 1960 | 1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 | 1992 | 1994 | 1998 | 2002 | 2006 | 2010