The president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, will speak next week at a ceremony in memory of the athletes murdered at the Munich Games, organized by the Israelis and British Jews, it was announced Tuesday.Ankie Spitzer, widow of fencing coach Andre Spitzer, noted that the memorial has nothing to do with the Olympic Committee:
Rogge has come under fire for refusing to allow a minute of silence at the opening ceremony of the Olympics last Friday in memory of the 11 Israeli athletes, who were killed in a terrorist attack in 1972.
“If the Israeli embassy and London Jewish community were not organizing it, he would not have any memorial to go to,” she said. “If they can’t do the right thing at home, in the Olympic ceremony, why come?”Good question.
Maybe someone should ask him.
Hundreds of representatives of the nations participating in the Olympics are expected to attend the memorial. The British Prime Minister, David Cameron, will address the gathering and the the mayor of London, Boris Johnson will be there as well. A message of support will be read from Charles, the Prince of Wales. Israel will be represented by Sports Minister Limor Livnat.
The memorial is no substitute for the minute of silence that Rogge has refused.
Apparently, Rogge still doesn't get it.
Technorati Tag: Israel and London Olympics and Munich Massacre.
3 comments:
Now is the time to stop him from doing that. Dis invite him in the clearest terms. Tell him to sing his hosannas from a Mosque or al Jazeera if he dares.
Why give him this get-out, he should absolutely not be permitted to speak. What a farce and an insult to the memory of our people.
I don't know how well it would go over to tell Rogge he is not welcome.
On the other hand, it is an opportunity to criticize the IOC with him there.
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