The summer Olympic games officially open up tomorrow night in London. The Olympic games are a very special time when we concentrate and enjoy witnessing true athletic competition for the sake of competition, among the best athletes in the world. We experience the joys of athletic success, and feel the disappointment of athletic loss as well. Every country that participates takes great pride in their athletes as it should be.
We should never lose sight of the fact that the Olympic games are about the athletes, and global politics should take a backseat for the next two weeks. In this spirit, it is incumbent on the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to reverently remember 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were murdered during the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. Many are urging the IOC to remember these athletes with a moment of silence during the opening ceremony; not because they were Israeli, but because they were athletes.
So far, this request has been rejected. In keeping with the spirit of the Olympics, these athletes should be remembered because they did not get the opportunity to compete as athletes.
I commend Bob Costas of NBC who gets it. He has asked the IOC the questions it can't answer regarding its refusal to take this step. He vows to remember these athletes with his own moment of silence as he covers the opening ceremony. It is the right thing to do. Thank you.
