The 1972 Summer Olympics were held in Munich, West Germany from August 26 to September 11. This event marked the first time Germany hosted the Olympics since the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. A total of 7,123 athletes from 121 nations participated in 195 events across 23 sports. The games were notable for the tragic Munich massacre, where a terrorist group took Israeli athletes hostage, resulting in the deaths of 11 athletes and a police officer. Despite this tragedy, the Olympics continued, showcasing remarkable athletic performances, including Mark Spitz's seven gold medals in swimming.