Nobility of Spirit and Purpose

The International Olympic Committee is fastidious about the reputation of the Olympic Games.  Above all, it must be recognized that this world-class event like none other brings together the nations of the world in amity and accord to celebrate the very finest athletic abilities of elite young men and women, champions of their sport. 

The Olympic Charter expresses the value that Olympians "place sport at the service of the harmonious development of humankind".

This is a sheer expression of nobility of spirit and purpose through sport competition. Where the world sits in wonder and expectation, viewing through technological communication advances one event after another where athletes representing their nations' aspirations as well as their own, perform at the peak of their abilities to attain recognition as the world's greatest athletic performer in their choice of sport.

Not enough can be said of the hopes and fears, courage and desperation that are invested in the individuals and groups competing for the glory of their countries.  The adoration and respect garnered by these peerless athletes, lavished upon them by a grateful public burnishes their own self esteem.  And in the process advances the cause of national competition and the lesser celebration of nationalism.

Cleaving to the ideal that the Olympics represents a celebration of the heights that the human body can aspire to, and that in so doing the world is made a better place, the Olympic Committee sees itself as wholly dedicated to nurturing the spirit of fair and free competition, championing the champions as rare as they are, in every society.

Theirs is a dedication solely and purely to the noble spirit of amateur sport.  Politics may not intrude.  In the process of mounting these lavish displays of national pride and athletic prowess, huge sums of money, profits from the Games, change hands from advertisers and Olympic-themed consumer items, and granting rights and ticket sales, so there are mercenary interests aplenty.  But politics, absolutely not.

Which is why no memorial representing a minute of sober silence to commemorate the tragedy of dead Israeli athletes at the hands of Fatah-derived Black September terrorists may take place.  It is most certainly not because the IOC fears the repercussions of insulting the sensibilities of the participating Arab/Muslim countries.  Merely that it is 'inappropriate' to the occasion.  Because they hold it to be so.

Back in 1972 when the Munich massacre took place, it was inappropriate also to halt the proceedings, or to mandate out of a spirit of common decency that all national flags be hoisted at half-mast.  In memorializing that atrocity in 1972 at the Munich Games, ten nations openly flew their flags at top mast, and heaven forfend that this might be construed as a political message of triumph.

Forty years later it is inappropriate still to hold that minute of silence.  The Games business franchise cannot be encumbered forever with an event that while regrettable, is in the past.  Neutral to terror.  The fiction that all is well, that respect and equality reign, that there is no moral responsibility or guidance of honour required is vaunted by the IOC and happily accepted by the international community.

The atrocity, sad as it was, is not the IOC's problem, after all.  It's their problem, the Israelis who begged for a brief minute of recognition of their loss.  It will not be had at the express cost of causing disgruntlement in the community of communities, some of which harbour an attachment to moral justice seen to be done, some of which cannot see what the fuss is all about.

Some of which simply won't have it.  Nor will the IOC.