Olympic Committee rejects Israeli request for Munich commemoration
ISTANBUL
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The International Olympic Committee has rejected an Israeli request that a minute of silence be observed at this year’s Olympic Games in memory of the 11 athletes killed during the 1972 Munich Olympics, the Guardian reported.Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon presented Israel's request to the committee. This year’s games will mark the 40th anniversary of the attack that claimed the lives of 11 Israeli athletes. The IOC rejected Ayalon's request.
Committee President Jacques Rogge said the IOC has already "paid tribute to the memory of the athletes on several occasions. "
The ICO also said arrangements will be made to mark the anniversary of the attack at other times, in addition to the traditional commemorative ceremony held every Olympic year, organized by the Israeli National Olympic Committee.
A spokeman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the IOC of treating the Munich attack as "an internal Israeli matter."
"It was an onslaught on the whole Olympic ideal," the official was quoted as saying in the Guardian. "But perhaps [the IOC] thinks anything to do with Israel is controversial. It is not a display of great courage and integrity."
A crisis erupted during the 1972 Munich Games when several Palestinian militants took 11 Israeli athletes hostage. None of the althletes survived the attack.
