1972 Munich Olympics

When you think of the Olympics the last thing that comes to mind is death and hatred. During the 1972 Munich Olympics Israeli Olympians were taking captive by Palestinian radicals. This all started on the night of September 5, 1972, when five Arabs dressed in track suits broke into the sleeping corders of the Israeli wrestling team. A few minutes before 5:00AM they knocked on the door of the Israeli coach and team. What seemed right at the time wasn’t the smartest idea. The coach wailed for help which intern got him and another weightlifter shot and killed. The other members in the room tried to escape but were unsuccessful and were taken hostage. After word of this horrible incident got around the terrorists spoke up and said that they were Palestinian Arabs. At first no one had a notion as to why the terrorists were doing this. Later they announced it was because they wanted the Israeli’s to release 234 Arab prisoners in Israeli jails. Hours later negotiations were made and German sharpshooters were ordered to shoot and kill the terrorists when they arrived at the air base in Firstenfeldbruck. The plan went horribly wrong and the terrorists ended up bombing two of the helicopters killing all aboard and then shot the rest of the remaining to death. Most of the terrorists were killed but some got away and named themselves “Black September.” The Israeli prime minister released a statement saying, “We have no choice but to strike at the terrorist organizations wherever we can reach them. That is our obligation to ourselves and to peace. We shall fulfill that obligation undauntedly.” From then on they started and organization called the “Wrath of God” and were set out to find the members of the terrorist group. Weeks later there was another threat to release the remaining members or else there would be another outbreak. German police surrendered and freed the terrorist prisoners. Word spread through the air that Arab Olympians had planned to boycott the next summer Olympics in Australia because there was said to be a moment of silence for the 11 fallen Israeli competitors. The 1972 Munich Olympics are a cold reminder of the ignorance humans can have in order to achieve there goal. Disrupting a international event and taking the lives of innocent people was not the right thing to do in terms of getting what you want. Not only was it irrational and out of question to expect to obtain what they wanted by kidnapping the olympians, it was even worse to go out of the way and attack a public event. The constant hatred the Arabs felt for the Jews was another reason behind the outbreak. It showed religious intolerance at is worst form. The Arabs had preconceived notions of the Jewish people and animosity towards them, that was only based on their religious background. Not only did this put a damper on the 1972 Olympics but it left people with the feeling if competing was even right anymore. It was Avery Brundage that declared, “ The games must go on.” And so they did with Olympic flags flying at half mast. Looking back you see that violence like that of which is shown is never a good way to justify what you want. 550