The IOC's Shame

Jacques Rogge and the International Olympic Committee had their opportunity to prove to the world that they do indeed care for the memory of those who died forty years ago in an atrocity that in 1972 they failed to give adequate concern toward.  The IOC's determination not to let any irritating little event interfere with the Munich games ensured that they continued despite the violent tragedy that took eleven Israeli Olympians from the competition and from life.

Mr. Rogge bent so far as to make a concession a week ago, in a well-thought-out and -expressed memorial statement at the Athletes Village in London where a relative handful of people witnessed the event.  Yet he steadfastly has refused to do the same, along with a 60-second moment of silence in respect of the Israeli athletes whom Palestinian terrorists targeted and slaughtered in Munich for the London opening ceremonies.


The Olympics are meant to represent disparate countries coming together in peace and goodwill, respecting the physical, athletic attributes of fine athletic performers representing the cream of each nation's young peoples' endeavours to succeed in their ultimate sport of choice.  That standard of human decency was irremediably soiled when Black September stormed the Munich Olympics.


One might think that Mr. Rogge and the other members of the IOC would be anxious to finally put the dread memory of the event to rest with respect and profound regret at the carnage.  They have consistently refused, despite the weight of public opinion, the entreaties of the widows of the murdered athletes, the heads of numberless countries and petition signatories insisting on a brief one-minute memorial.


Missing from the roster of those around the world hoping for the IOC to finally see reason has been the Arab League, and most notably the Palestinians.  An Israeli-Arab MK, Hanin Zoabo in fact, insists that there should be a minute of silence for Palestinian Authority Arabs, killed by Israel; to balance the appeal for a minute of silence for the 11 Israeli athletes murdered in Munich.

"If Israel would say that it recognizes the injustice it has done to the Palestinians, then it would also make sense to demand that the world remember all sides.  But it is hypocritical to keep mentioning the victims of 40 years ago while Israel is trying to hide the [Arab] victims of recent years."  Palestinians have completely politicized and poisoned the atmosphere, indicting Israel irrespective of the matter at hand.


The tradition of blaming Israel for the Palestinian leaders' own inability to come to terms with a situation they they have themselves created completely blind-sides them to any issues in which they are culpable, refusing to admit even to themselves that they have failed their own futures abysmally.  The incendiary hatred and blame targeting Israel for all the ills of the Arab world will never abate.


In this issue of the Olympics Games and the relationship between nations and their athletes, pressure placed upon the IOC by Arab bloc influence, power, outreach and wealth dominates the agenda.  The IOC, completely immersed in its commercial legacy, focused on its trademark ability to make money, is far less concerned with the honour and the courage of its conviction.


A statement by the Palestinian representative to the IOC delineates quite neatly the position of the IOC itself, while encapsulating the corrupt hypocrisy of the Palestinian/Arab position, reflecting that of the IOC itself.

“Sports are a bridge for love, communication and the spreading of peace between nations and should not be used for divisiveness and the spread of racism”
Jibril Rajoub, Palestinian Olympic Committee head & ex-Fatah senior official's outrageous denunciation of calls for a minute of silence for the Munich 11