Israel Matzav

Give Bob Costas a gold medal for being a mentch

The International Olympic Committee may not be willing to honor the eleven Israeli Olympic athletes who were murdered at the Munich Olympics in 1972. But sportscaster Bob Costas will honor them on his own, on the air when the London Olympics open next weekend (Hat Tip: Ricky G).

Sportcaster Bob Costas told the Hollywood Reporter this week that he had his own plans for a tribute to the athletes as part of his duties covering the Olympics for NBC Sports.

At the July 27 Opening Ceremony from London, Costas plans to call out the IOC for denying Israel’s request for a moment of silence acknowledging the massacre of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the 1972 Games. On the 40th anniversary of Munich, it’s a decision he finds “baffling.” When the Israeli delegation enters the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, Costas will stage his own protest: “I intend to note that the IOC denied the request,” he says, modulating his voice as if he were on the air. “Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here’s a minute of silence right now.”

An IOC-backed moment of remembrance is still the most appropriate way to mark the anniversary of the terrorist attack on Israel’s athletes. After all, it’s part of the Olympic history as much as any of the athletic events of that year. But if the IOC is turning a blind eye to its own legacy, having Bob Costas step in and rectify the issue in front of a massive audience of US Olympic watchers may well be the next best thing.

Who knows, maybe other members of the media will follow suit.

Give the man a gold medal for being a mentch if he goes through with this.

Labels: anti-Semitism, London Olympics, Munich Olympic massacre

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:24 PM