A day that shook the world
‘September 5’ revisits the terror attack at the 1972 Munich Olympics coverage, thrusting sports reporters into unexpected roles and ethical dilemmas
There were great hopes for the 20th edition of the Summer Olympics in the German city of Munich in 1972. For West Germany, the event was to provide a public opportunity for the nation to demonstrate its post-World War 2 reinvention as a modern, democratic and liberal country no longer burdened by its horrific Nazi past and leading the way in the celebration of the diverse races, nations, cultures and, of course, the athletic prowess, of all the citizens of the globe. It would also prove a perfect opportunity to erase from the world’s memory the terrible spectre of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, used by Adolf Hitler as propaganda theatre for the Nazis. In the new, technologically advanced era of colour television, the Munich games were also the first to be broadcast live across the world via the innovation of satellite technology and, for the first 10 days of the games, the world’s eyes were glued to their TV screens for the epic full-colour sporting dramas that Munich offered...
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