Munich '72 Olympic

Olga from Russia was "the queen" of gymnastics. An incredibly talented athlete who was falling in love with the world and the world was falling in love with her. The Press got her right. Every time I was close to her she bounced and bubbled with excitement whether she was at a venue or in the athlete's village. Although many spectators cheered for their own country, she belonged to everyone in 1972.

Mark Spitz "the king" of swimming was also admired by all. Everyone who I spoke with in Munich would express how amazed they were of his swimming ability. And after he won his seventh gold medal I was one of the few people in the athlete's village who was able to speak with him before his rapid departure from the village to the Munich Airport because they feared for his life after Black Tuesday.

One of the most impressive spiritual events that I have ever attended is the Memorial Service at the main olympic stadium after Black Tuesday. Mama Graf warned me not to go because she was worried about my safety. Afterwards I was sorry I did not insist that she go with me. I felt that the whole world was grieving.

The Graf Residence on Wilhelmstrasse

I realized at the Mexico City Olympics that the excitement of the games was not only the excitement of sports. A warm wonderful blanket covers every host city and magical events unfold. There I was, walking up a wide well built "magical" wooden staircIase which led to a very large beautiful home. It was the home of Elizabeth Graf who soon, for me, became MaMa Graf. I say magical steps because every time I went up those steps another olympic adventure awaited me. MaMa Graf's home became an international house. There were guests from different countries; Chile, Taiwan, Japan, China and the USA. We would take Mama to the games which she loved. She also loved having tea and chatting. She had visitors and would want me to meet them. There was one very old interesting man from the forest who sort of sang his words when he spoke and he was incredibly great at, (my favorite), yodling! I think of that very interesting old man often and made an audio tape of him. Years later, although I could understand almost nothing, it was so relaxing to play, just to listen to his sounds, his poetry, his nature.

More than thirty years later a very interesting letter arrived at my school in Capistrano. The post mark was Germany. Hmmm.

Great Olympic Camping Sites...and then Schwabbing!

The line for the olympic camp grounds was long. As I waited in line I listened and tried remembering my German. The line moved at an even pace and when there were only about three people in front of me a German woman came to my side. Now I wasn't able to understand her but some of the others in line translated. "She wants you to come to her house, you can stay at her home". I wasn't quite sure what to do but my first response was asking them to explain that I would like to remain in line. She was insisting. The line moved quickly and although I was still wondering I did pick up some great camping brochures and because it was still early enough I joined an incredibly enthusiastic wonderful woman who had been listening to the olympic committee for years ask the locals to share their homes. The olympic committee was accepting phone calls and would allocate the foreigners to the homes that were offered. This very bright warm-hearted woman decided that...rather than have someone ELSE decide who should live in her home...SHE, quite simply, would do it herself!!!

And she and her family will be part of the next posts!

Olympic Games of 1972, Munich, Germany

Several posts would be needed to cover my life during the years preceding Munich. And no matter how many posts I could enter about the games in Germany, none could express the amount of excitement that those games brought. In any case, here goes just the beginning.

I flew into Munich and with my backpack and maps headed for a large OLYMPIC INFORMATION CENTER. Whew, it was big and there were lines for almost anything anyone would or could be wondering about. I first usually walk the circumference of a new place and check all out, so I did. Although I got in the line for "camping", I ended up in one of the grandest apartments in the city!