The City of Munich and the Free State of Bavaria are currently deciding on the design and location of a new memorial remembering the victims of the 1972 Olympia terrorist attack during which 11 Israeli athletes and one Bavarian policeman were killed. The location where the memorial should be erected has long been argued about, and there have also been opinions that there shouldn’t be a memorial at all.

Now it seems that the host of different experts involved have come to a decision on the location and the design. The memorial will be located in the midst of the Olympiapark, on the so called Lindenhügel hill. Other discussed locations were the Studenten and the Conolly hills of the park. The Studenten was dismissed because students and inhabitants nearby felt that the memorial would be too close to their homes, the Conolly hill is a popular sleigh ride site during wintertime.

Bavaria’s Minister of Culture Ludwig Spaene (CSU) finds the location suitable because it is set in the middle of the Olympiapark, which combined with the elevated position, makes it easy to spot from almost anywhere within the park. He pointed out that: “We want to return dignity to the victims.” The memorial will cost 1.75 million Euros and will be financed by the Free State of Bavaria, the City of Munich, Federal government, as well as the International and the German Olympic Committee.

The families of the victims of the 1972 attack will be involved in the process of gathering documents and other exhibits at the memorial. The Israeli Consul praised the design of the memorial by the Brückner & Brückner architect firm.