U.S. lawmaker: 'Refusal to honor victims of Munich massacre will stain the IOC'

[King_David]

The campaign to observe a minute on silence to commemorate 40 years since the murder of eleven Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, at the Olympic opening ceremony in London on Friday is attracting wide support in the United States with law makers joining the call to hold a moment of silence joining the support already expressed by President Barack Obama and including the support of both President Obama's and his Republican contender Mitt Romney's.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/sports/london-2012/olympics-news/u-s-lawmaker-refusal-to-honor-victims-of-munich-massacre-will-stain-the-ioc-1.453648

[Ken Burch]

1. Didn't they already agree to the moment of silence?

n/t.

[oberliner]

2. Munich Widows’ Request for Moment of Silence Is Turned Down

Family members of the 11 murdered Israeli athletes from the 1972 Munich Olympics met Wednesday in London with Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic Committee president, to formally request a moment of silence during Friday’s opening ceremony.

But Rogge turned down their request.

http://london2012.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/munich-widows-to-meet-with-rogge-to-urge-moment-of-silence/

[Ken Burch]

3. They SHOULD have the moment, agreed.

But, if they don't have it, nobody EXCEPT the IOC should be attacked for the decision.

[azurnoir]

4. I guess the IOC did hold a memorial of sorts on Sunday

Israeli officials were underwhelmed Monday by a surprise tribute the International Olympic Committee paid at London's Olympic Village to the 11 Israeli athletes killed at the 1972 Munich games.

A ceremony that nobody knew about or paid attention to is not what Jerusalem was looking for, said one diplomatic official.

.......................................................................................................

Israeli officials had said that they wanted the event marked not at some side ceremony, but rather at the opening ceremony attended by tens of thousands of people and watched by hundreds of millions more around the globe.

http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=278609

[shira]

5. Certain elements around the globe will not allow for Israelis to be seen as victims...

Also, the PLO is quite proud of Munich. This would be a source of shame to them. Can't have that....