The decision seems, partly at least, a belated attempt to appease critics of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) who claim not enough has been done to commemorate the victims of the massacre at Munich 1972.

At the inauguration of the mourning place next year, Thomas Bach promised the IOC will "remember all those who have lost their lives at the Olympic Games," including the Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who was killed in a training accident on the eve of Vancouver 2010. 

Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, killed in a training accident on the eve of Vancouver 2010, will also be remembered during Rio 2016 ©AFP/Getty Images

"Participants at past Olympic Games have been affected by casualties and incidents back in their home counties," said Bach following the decision taken by the IOC's ruling Executive Board, who had been meeting here.

"We want to give the athletes the opportunity to express their mourning in a dignified way and environment in the Olympic Village where representatives of the whole world are living peacefully under the same roof.

"At the Closing Ceremony, the Games come to an end and many people feel that it is a moment to remember people who have died at the Olympic Games."

A total of 11 Israeli Olympic team members were taken hostage during the Olympics in Munich and eventually killed, along with a German police officer, by the Palestinian group Black September.

The Games were suspended for a day and then carried on.

Ever since then, the IOC has faced repeated criticism from across the world that it has not done enough to honour the victims.

A spontaneous minute's silence was held at the Olympic Village during London 2012 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Munich Massacre in 1972 ©AFP/Getty Images

At London 2012, on the 40th anniversary of the Massacre, there were calls for it to be acknowledged during the Opening or Closing Ceremony.

Instead, then IOC President Jacques Rogge led a spontaneous minute of silence during a ceremony which promoted the Olympic Truce, marking the first time ever that the the Olympic Movement honoured the Israeli victims in a ceremony inside an Olympic Village.

It followed a long campaign led by Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romano, widows of two of the murdered athletes.

The campaign was supported by leading politicians across the world, including those in Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Australia and the United States, whose President Barack Obama came out in support.

"We have a lot to do yet until Rio [2016] comes around but I am absolutely confident that in Rio the circle will come to full closure," Spitzer said following the London 2012 ceremony. 

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