Israel Matzav

Murdered Israeli athletes remembered... but not by the IOC

In a ceremony by Russian Jewry and the Israeli Olympic team, the members of the 1972 Olympic team who were murdered in Munich were remembered in Sochi. Unfortunately, once again, the International Olympic Committee was not there.

Chief Russian Rabbi Berel Lazar said the memorial was meant to connect and embolden the Jewish diaspora.

"So when you think of the history of Israeli athletes going to different Olympics, mentioning the Munich '72 massacre, is...always tell us you know being Jewish sometimes is not as comfortable as you would like it to be. But it really depends on us to move forward, not be ashamed and then the people around us are going to understand that we are here to stay and we are open about it," Lazar said.

Andrea Davidovich, a US-born Israeli figure skater, said she felt close to the 1972 athletes.
"I feel like we are representing them and what they couldn't achieve because of people who are against us, and we have to all be together the way were were greeted today and stand behind each other, because we're Jewish and we are all a part of this community and have to support each other," Davidovich said.

Widows of two of the athletes who were killed have long campaigned for the 1972 victims to be remembered at Olympic opening ceremonies.

...

An International Olympic Committee (IOC) spokesman said the IOC remembered the victims in other official ways - with services and by the statues in Munich commemorating the tragedy.

Yes, of course, the Games must go on. Spit.... 

Labels: International Olympic Committee, Munich Olympic massacre

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 1:13 AM