Israel competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, which began on August 26. On September 5 and 6, in the Munich massacre, 11 members of the Israeli delegationâÂÂ5 athletes, 2 referees, and 4 coaches (names bolded on this page)âÂÂwere taken hostage by the Black September Organization terrorists and murdered. The remainder of the team left Munich on September 7.
Shaul Ladany, a Holocaust survivor, competed in the 50-kilometer walk. He had been imprisoned in Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as a child, and wore a Star of David on his warm-up jersey. When he was congratulated by locals on his fluent German, he responded: "I learned it in Bergen-Belsen". He survived the Munich massacre by jumping off a balcony.
The following nominated referees and judges were in the delegation:
The following coaches and officials were in the delegation: