Yes, they stood
Out of the range of cameras which for whatever reason did not want to record the moment, Israel’s Culture and Sport Minister Limor Livnat stood in silence in respect for the 11 Israelis murdered in Munich at the 1972 Olympic Games during the opening ceremony speech made by IOC President Jacques Rogge in London.
The Australian newspaper today published an editorial on the opening ceremony.
They wrote: “The genius of producer Danny Boyle’s achievement was the he showcased Britain’s heritage alongside its vast progress since the 1948 London Olympics in a down to earth realistic way that contradicted long-standing perceptions of British stuffiness and superiority bringing together such disparate elements as the Sex Pistols, Lord Voldemort, Mary Poppins, William Shakespeare and The Beatles.
On only one issue did it fall short – the failure despite entreaties from Barack Obama, Julia Gillard and other leaders to observe a minute’s silence marking the massacre of Israeli athletes and officials by the Palestinian terrorists in Munich 40 years ago.”
Israeli daily “Israel Hayom” has published a photograph of Minister Livnat standing with head bowed and wearing a black armband.
The paper also reported that Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon had “lambasted International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge for his refusal to commemorate the Israelis”. He said that Rogge had “lost his ability to legitimately represent the Olympic ideal”.
He commented on the the silence commemorating the memories of the British citizens killed as a result of terrorist attacks.
Livnat was seated in a VIP area with foreign ministers from several participating countries.
Thanks to the Australian for having it on record that the silence was kept, accompanied by the comments.
You all did your best.
Nobody could see me either, but I also stood.