IOC Turns Down Minute of Silence to Honor Slain Israeli Athletes
Published at(LONDON) — The International Olympic Committee has officially ruled out holding a minute of silence to commemorate the 40th anniversary of 11 Israeli team members who were killed by Palestinian terrorists during the 1972 Summer Games in Munich.
IOC President Jacques Rogge was under pressure to mark the anniversary at the start of the London Olympics ceremony this Friday but turned down the request of some of the victims’ families.
Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Rogge said, “We are going to pay homage as we have done in the past and will do in the future. That is what we are going to do.”
That includes the IOC holding the traditional private commemoration with the Israeli Olympic Committee. This year, Rogge said there would also be a visit to the airfield in Fuerstenfeldbruck, Germany, where most members of the Israeli team were killed.
President Obama was among other international leaders who offered his support for a minute of silence.
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