A relatively small contingent of Israeli athletes left Monday for Seoul, South Korea, on their way to participate in the 1988 Olympic Games, which begin there in two weeks.
Their departure coincided with the 16th anniversary of the Munich Olympics massacre, when on Sept. 5, 1972, Palestinian terrorists gunned down 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team in Munich.
Israel’s Olympic squad will include 19 men and women: four tennis players, three boxers, two wrestlers, one swimmer, three women gymnasts, two marksmen and four yachtsmen, who will compete in Flying Dutchman and 470 Class competitions.
The Israel Olympics Committee explained that the team is smaller than in previous years, because only competitors who attained Olympic qualifying standards were considered for inclusion.
As a result, there will be no Israeli track and field team in Seoul.
Among the U.S. athletes going to Seoul are 12 who took part in the Maccabiah Games in Israel.
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