Tragic: Some of the Worst Disasters in the History of Sports
Sports has seen some of the worst tragedies over the years. Be it the Munich massacre in 1972 or the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan team bus in Pakistan, they have left scars on the minds of everyone involved.
On this day, in 1972, a total of 11 Israelites from the Olympic team were held as hostages and later killed by Palestinian terrorists during the Munich Olympics. We take a look at other dreadful disasters that have occurred in the world of sports:
Munich Olympics Massacre - 5-6 September, 1972
During the ongoing Summer Olympics in Munich, a Palestinian group known as 'Black September' held 11 members of the Israel Olympics team hostage and demanded the release of 234 of their political prisoners who were held at a jail in Israel. The terrorist killed 6 Israeli coaches and 5 Israeli athletes. A total of 17 were reported dead which also included 5 Black September members and a German police officer.
Accra Sports Stadium Disaster - 9 May, 2001
One hundred and tweny-nine football fans in Ghana died after a horrific stampede broke out during a game between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The stampede broke out after the referee of the match gave a controversial decision. The police personnel present at the stadium began to fire teargas which led to the aggravating the incident.
© AFP
Terrorist Attack on Sri Lankan Cricketers - 3 March, 2009
Twelve gunmen of the terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Jhangvi awaited a bus, carrying Sri Lankan cricketers when they were travelling to Gadaffi stadium in Lahore, to play the second Test against Pakistan. As the bus passed, the militants opened fire at the bus. Pakistan police returned fire and in the process 6 policemen and 2 civilians died. Several Sri Lankan cricketers were severely injured namely Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara,Thilan Samaraweera, Tharanga Paranavitana, Chaminda Vaas, Ajantha Mendis and Suranga Lakmal.
SS Bokhara Disaster - 10 October, 1892
A P&O ship known as the SS Bokhara sank off-coast of Sand Island in Taiwan due to a disastrous typhoon. This shipwreck claimed a total of 125 lives, eleven of who were members of the Hong Kong national cricket team. The team was returning home after a cricket match a week earlier against Shanghai.
Southern Airways Flight 932 Disaster - 14 November, 1970
A chartered United States jet plane flying from North Carolina to West Virginia crashed into tree tops on a hill in an attempt to land after an alert regarding bad weather conditions. The plane carried a total of 75 people, 37 who were footballers of the Marshall University team. Following a loss to East Carolina Pirates, the team were on their way home; it was also one of the rare occasions the team travelled by flight. This disaster is recorded as the worst is U.S. sports history.
Superga Air Disaster - 4 May, 1949
A plane carrying the entire Torino football team, also known as 11 Grande Torino, crashed into a wall of the Basilica of Superlaga on a hill of Turin due to bad weather conditions. The team were on their way back home after a friendly match in Portugal. 31 passengers on board were killed which included 18 players, 4 crew members and journalists.
© AFP
Munich Air Disaster - 6 February, 1958
A British European Airlines flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway in West Germany. The plane carried members of the Manchester United football team who were returning home from a European Cup match. This crash killed a total of 23 people from the 44 on board.