Headed the Israeli delegation at four Olympics, survived in Munich and is considered an influential figure in Israeli sports • 94 years old at his death
Lalkin (on the right) with Esther Roth Shakharov, in a ceremony in memory of the victims of the Munich massacre
Photography:
Olympic Committee
The family of Olympic sports in Israel and the entire sport bow their heads when the news of the death of Shmuel Lalkin, who headed the Israeli Olympic delegations in Mexico in 1968, Munich in 1972, Montreal in 1976 and Los Angeles in 1984, was announced this morning.
Lalkin, born in Tel Aviv (February 8, 1926), had a military career for many years, beginning with the Palmach. He led a patrol unit in the south that was captured by the British and sentenced to two years in prison.
Participated in the liberation of Jerusalem during the War of Independence and served as a commanding officer until 1962.
Lalkin was a volleyball and table tennis player at Hapoel Tel Aviv in his youth, and served for 35 years as the general manager of the Sports Association, until 1995. He is considered a very influential figure in Israeli sports.
Who was the head of the Israeli delegation to the 1972 Munich Olympics, his life was saved, as his room in the Olympic Village was about ten meters away from the residence of the Israeli delegation, 11 of whose members were killed by terrorists.
At a ceremony in their memory at the Olympic Stadium, on the day of the murder, which was broadcast live to millions of viewers around the world, Lalkin delivered an unforgettable speech in Hebrew, in which he stated that Israel would continue to perform at the Olympics in the future.