President of the International Olympic Committee a minute of silence to be held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Munich Games attack during the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympics, despite the standing request of the families of the 11 Israeli Olympic team members who were held hostage and murdered by the Palestinian group Black September. Calls for such a commemoration marking 40 years since the massacre had also come from Jewish organizations worldwide and politicians from the United States, Israel, Canada, Italy, Australia and Germany. He and the IOC instead opted for a smaller ceremony in London that took place on 6
Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon Athletics at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Men's decathlon The men's decathlon combined event at the 1972 Olympic Games took place on 7 & 8 September. The favorite was Joachim Kirst, who had won the European Championship in 1969 and 1971. The decathletes were unfortunate, as they had to re-open the Olympics, the morning after the postponement due to the tragic events of the Munich massacre. As the events continued the favorite, Kirst, hit the third hurdle in the 110 metres and fell, dropping out of the race. All heights in metres. All distance are in metres. All distance are