In Honor Of The 11 Israeli Athletes Killed During The 1972 Munich Olympics

40 years ago in September, eleven innocent Israeli athletes were  murdered at the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. The IOC refused to spare one minute of the 2012 opening night spectacle for a moment of silence, though Bob Costas managed to sneak in a comment during the Parade of Nations:

As Israeli athletes entered the stadium, Costas recalled the 1972 Munich tragedy and said "there have been calls from a number of quarters" for the IOC to have a moment of silence in the London opening ceremony. Costas then noted the IOC had held a moment of silence this week at the Athletes Village. Costas' conclusion: "Still, for many, tonight, with the world watching, is the true time and place to remember those who were lost and how and why they died."

After pausing, Costas said before an NBC commercial break: "We're back to London after this."

So maybe Costas then stayed silent. And maybe viewers decided to stay silent during NBC's ad break. But Costas didn't specifically call for any silence even as he remembered the Israeli victims 40 years after their deaths.

Costas had said he would ask for a moment during the broadcast, but for whatever reason he obviously changed his mind. However, I'm glad he at least brought the subject up with a global audience, which is what the IOC should have done. Instead, IOC president Jacques Rogge held a "surprise"  private tribute in the Olympic Athletes Village. No doubt as a result of world-wide pressure, and not because it was the right thing to do.

Thought you'd be interested to know that the above photo, along with: "Victims of terrorism in Munich olympics RIP", was posted on a secular Iranian Facebook Page.

Indeed Rest In Peace:

David Berger (weightlifter)
Yossef Gutfreund (wrestling referee)
Ze'ev Friedman (weightlifter)
Eliezer Halfin (wrestler)
Yossef Romano (weightlifter)
Amitzur Shapira (track coach)
Kehat Shorr (shooting coach)
Mark Slavin (wrestler)
Andre Spitzer (fencing coach)
Yakov Springer (weightlifting judge)
Moshe Weinberg (wrestling coach)

and Anton Fliegerbauer, the German police officer who was killed.

The terrorists who were killed don't deserve mention.

Wikipedia has an account of the sequence of events.

Olympics Committee Says Leave Your Discrimination At Home

This is good! The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has told athletes to leave their prejudice and discrimination at home. Although it could refer to anyone, we all know it's aimed at those with the boycott, "I Hate" Israel mentality. Those that notoriously refuse to compete or collaborate with Israelis. And it's not just Arab, Middle Eastern Muslim types that love to boycott Israel.

But I'm glad to see the IOC taking a stand.

Refusing to compete against a fellow athlete at the London Games because of nationality or religion would be a “serious breach” of the Olympic code of ethics, the IOC said Friday.

The International Olympic Committee said athletes and teams should “stay at home” if they are not prepared to compete without discrimination.

The IOC comment came after an Algerian kayaker withdrew from a World Cup last month in which an Israeli was entered.

Without commenting specifically on that incident, the IOC condemned such a “hypothetical scenario” at the London Olympics.

“Refusing to participate in an Olympic event because of a fellow athlete/team’s religion or nationality, would not only be unsporting behavior but a serious breach of the IOC’s code of ethics, the principles of the Olympic Charter and the athletes oath,” IOC spokeswoman Emmanuelle Moreau said in a statement.

“If an athlete/team is unable to come to the games in spirit of friendship and fair play, then they should stay at home,” Moreau said. “There can be no discrimination for any reason between participants at the Olympic Games.”

That's right stay at home. Keep politics and religious hatred out of sports.