Bob Costas intends to honor Munich victims, call o

[teflep]

Forty years ago this summer, the Olympic world was rocked by the tragedy of the Munich Massacre. Recently there was public outcry when the International Olympic Committee refused to honor the Israeli victims of the 1972 Palestinian terror attacks.
Bob Costas (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)
If the IOC won't do it, Bob Costas won't let that go unnoticed.

Costas, who is NBC Sports' lead anchor for the London Games, told The Hollywood Reporter that he intends to call out the committee as the Israeli delegation is introduced during the Opening Ceremony on July 27 at the Olympic Stadium.

"I intend to note that the IOC denied the request," Costas said. "Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here's a minute of silence right now."

Costas appears to be joining the efforts of Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and Ankie Spitzer, whose husband was among the Munich victims. Ayalon said the IOC refusal of his request to commemorate the victims was "unacceptable." Spitzer, meanwhile, has been petitioning to have a moment of silence during the Opening Ceremony, to no avail.

"The IOC's refusal is pure discrimination," she said.

Additionally, the both President Barack Obama and the White House have put their support behind a moment of silence, further fueling the tension of the situation.

It seems unlikely, however, the IOC will reverse its position. The committee acknowledges that the Munich victims have been honored at every Summer Olympics since the tragedy, with the exception of the 1980 Moscow Games.

Even without the IOC's consent, Costas seems determined to keep the issue in the spotlight.

sports.yahoo.com/blogs/olympics-fourth-place-medal/bob-costas-intends-honor-munich-victims-call-ioc-194507640--oly.html

[emilyj]

The IOC is truly a piece of shit. Some of the things they have done in the past, and the decisions they have made have been head shaking and eye roll worthy, but this is terrible.

[laurenpetro]

i love bob costas.

[Deleted]

Team Bob Costas but really, this is no surprise. The IOC will bend over backwards to avoid upsetting any delegation, particularly on a political issue, as if Munich massacre was simply a political ideal that causes disagreement instead of an act of terror during what was supposed to be a time of peace.

[Deleted]

fuck yeah, bob costas.

[ttt]

Israel's own IOC member is opposed:

articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-07-21/sports/chi-ioc-rejects-worldwide-calls-for-opening-ceremony-memorial-to-murdered-israelis-20120721_1_ankie-spitzer-israelis-foreign-minister


Israel’s IOC member, Alex Gilady, is among those opposed to having a moment of silence in London, a stand that many in his country find incomprehensible.

Gilady’s rationale is simple:  he remembers when Israel was thrown out of the Asian Olympic Association in 1981 and could not get another continental sports affiliation until the efforts of people including Rogge helped Israel become a member of the European Olympic Committees in 1994.  Gilady fears a moment of silence will create a backlash endangering Israel’s place in international sport.

“I believe I am acting in best interest of Israeli sport,” Gilady said in a telephone interview.  “For me, the most important thing at the moment is that Israel have stages to compete on….I hope the moment will come we can have appropriate commemoration in the Olympic stadium for the Israelis killed in Munich.”