We received the following press release from Chabad Lubavitch in Litchfield:
Olympic Fencer from the ’72 Israeli delegation will tell of the friends he lost
As this year’s Israeli delegation prepares to head to London to compete in the 2012 Olympics, Chabad of Northwest CT will be remembering the courageous athletes from the ’72 Munich Games.
“The Olympics are a symbol of freedom and peace between nations” says Dan Alon, an Olympic Fencer from the ’72 Israeli delegation, who will be coming from Israel to address the Northwest CT community and sign his new book “Munich Memoirs” on August 12, 2012 at 10:00 am at Chabad Community Center, 7 Village Green Drive, Litchfield CT.
Alon, a survivor of the Munich Massacre, is featured in the documentary “The Eleventh Day: The Survivors of Munich ’72″.
Olympics massacre memorial in Tel Aviv, Israel
Alon began fencing when he was only twelve years old and quickly made a name for himself, earning bragging rights as Israel’s Junior Champion, and following national service, Israel’s National Champion.
Born in Tel Aviv, Dan, like many other athletes today, had a singular dream – to participate in the Olympics.
Dan will speak about his own experiences at the Olympics, and recount the horrific events that occurred.
Weightlifters Moshe Weinstein and Joseph Romano, both whom Alon calls, “Tremendous human beings, and very dedicated athletes,” tried to fight off the terrorists, and as a result lost their lives.
In the world of sports, athletes relish the opportunity to represent their country at big sporting events such as the Olympics. But very few of them are faced with the life threatening situations that the Israeli delegation faced in Munich.
For the Israeli delegation, the Olympics wasn’t just a competition, it was a chance to show the world that the nation of Israel was thriving. They were the first Israeli team to compete since World War II and it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to show the world, that “We are here, and still alive!” Alon remembers how close he was to making it to the semifinals. He had defeated his opponent in the first four rounds of his fencing quarterfinal, and needed just one victory to advance.
“My opponent won a few points, and all of a sudden he had defeated me five games to four.”
Athletics competitions are decided by mere milliseconds of a difference. A few milliseconds was the difference that some of the Israeli Olympians had, to try and save their teammates.
Though the games continued after the terrible massacre, according to Alon, “some of the players from various countries decided that in light of what had happened, they would pack their bags and return home – for this I applaud them.”
For Alon, and other Israeli Olympians, one of the most important aspects of the Olympics is that they know the people of Israel will always be by their side. Some of the pain and suffering he felt returning to Israel after the massacre was alleviated when he stepped off the plane.
“When we landed at the airport, and I see these beautiful Israeli people, waiting for us – thousands of them, it was something I will never forget.”
Program Details:
Hear Dan Alon tell his story and sign his new book Munich Memoir. Following the lecture There will be a VIP lunch reception at a private Litchfield home (for Sponsors only).
The lecture and book signing will be held on Sunday August 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. at Chabad, 7 Village Green Drive in Litchfield. The VIP Lunch will be held on Sunday August 12, 2012, at 12:00 p.m. in a private home in Litchfield. Reserve your seat at: www.chabadNW.org/munich or by calling 860-567-3609.
Tower Bridge sports the Olympic rings in readiness for the 2012 Olympics in London which will begin in 4 days. Photo: Olympic.org website
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