1972 Summer Olympics

1972 Summer Olympics

See also: 1972 Summer Paralympics[?]

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

Palestinian terrorists took 11 Israeli athletes hostage on September 5. After a failed rescue attempt, all athletes and most of the hostage 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.

See the medal winners, ordered by sport:

Pos Country Gold Silver Bronze Total

IOC Site on 1972 Summer Olympics (http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/past/index_uk.asp?OLGT=1&OLGY=1972)