Kaarlo Kangasniemi reflects on 1972 Munich Olympics terrorist attack and calls for exclusion of Israeli athletes from Paris Games

On September 5, 1972, weightlifter Kaarlo Kangasniemi woke up early as usual. Having already completed his performance at the Olympics, the athlete from Pori went for a morning walk in the Munich Olympic Village. He spotted several hooded figures on a nearby balcony but continued his walk without giving it much thought.

Upon returning to his quarters, the head of the Finnish Olympic team, Pekka Kare, informed him that terrorists had attacked the Olympic Village. Kangasniemi recalls receiving this news via a call from the Swedish team. The hooded men belonged to the Black September terrorist group, which took 12 Israeli athletes hostage, resulting in the tragic deaths of 11 of them at the hands of their captors.

Like many athletes, Kangasniemi remained indoors, feeling uncertain and tense. Initially, there was information suggesting that the Olympics would be suspended, but the break ultimately lasted only one day. According to Kangasniemi, while some Finnish athletes struggled with the events, others focused on the remainder of the competitions. “The mood was somber for a time, but eventually, even sad events are forgotten,” he noted.

Security measures in Munich were lax prior to the terrorist attack, said Kangasniemi, who revealed that he had given his participant pass to wrestler Pekka Hjelti, allowing him to enter the Olympic Village unchecked. “No one even noticed it was a different person,” he remarked, adding that many others used similar tactics.

The 83-year-old, nicknamed “Gold Kalle,” remains concerned about the ongoing violence in the world and believes that Israel, as a warring state, should be excluded from the upcoming Paris Olympics. He finds it unfair that Russian and Belarusian athletes have been barred from competing, while Israeli athletes are allowed to join.