(JTA) — Munich, the German city where 11 Israelis were killed during a terrorist attack at the 1972 Summer Olympics, is bidding to host the 2018 Winter Games.
The city’s bid committee on Tuesday handed its bid book to officials from the International Olympic Committee. Munich would become the first city to host both a winter and a summer Olympics.
Eleven Israeli athletes and coaches were killed when Palestinian terrorists from the Black September group broke into their barracks in the Olympic vlllage of the 1972 Games and held them hostage. During an unsuccessful rescue attempt, all of the hostages were killed.
The families of the athletes have tried unsuccessfully for decades to hold an opening ceremonies memorial service for the victims of the 1972 terrorist attack, but have been told by the IOC that it is not willing to mix politics and sport or to offend delegates from the 40 Arab and Muslim countries.
Zvi Vashaviak, the president of the Israel Olympic Committee, told The Jerusalem Post that he believes if Munich wins the Games, it will agree to hold the memorial ceremony.
The other two cities being considered for the 2018 Games are Annecy, France, and Pyeongchang, South Korea.
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