INTERNATIONAL: Dachshund owners gathered in Munich on Monday 18 April 2022, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Munich Olympic Games which included a dachshund named Waldi as its mascot.
Under clear blue skies, the Bavarian city held Easter events on the former grounds of the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
Dog owners had fond memories of Waldi, which was the first official mascot in the history of the Olympic summer games.
Some of the dogs wore jumpers in colors resembling the design of Waldi.
"So we thought, this is just the right outfit for today and I just hoped that it was not so hot because otherwise they would not have been dressed", said dachshund owner Christine to Reuters-TV.
The dachshunds participated in an obstacle course, a fashion show, and a walk around the Olympic Lake.
Back in 1972, a dachshund mascot was chosen since they were a popular breed among citizens of Munich. The president of the German National Olympic Committee (NOC), who organized the 1972 games, also owned a dachshund.
The official date of the 50th anniversary will be in late August, with the games having taken place from August 26 to September 11, 1972.
The 1972 Olympic Games were overshadowed by a terrorist attack on the Israeli Olympic teams by a Palestinian militant group which led to the death of 12 people and five of the perpetrators during the second weeks of the game.
PHOTO: EASTER EVENT IN MUNICH OLYMPIA PARK INCLUDING A DACHSHUND RALLY CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES IN MUNICH 1972 / SOUNDBITES BY PARTICIPANTS AND ORGANISERS
