LONDON (AP) ― The widow of an Israeli athlete slain during the 1972 Munich Olympics denounced the IOC during a memorial Monday to honor the dead, shouting “Shame on you!” for failing to offer a moment of silence during the opening ceremony for the London Games.
Ankie Spitzer took the podium during the service for the 11 athletes and officials killed in a terrorist attack and pointedly directed her remarks to International Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge, who had spoken moments earlier and was present in the room, together with London organizing committee chairman Sebastian Coe.
Ilano Romano, a widow of one of the members of the Israeli Olympic team who was killed, addresses guests in London on Monday. (AP-Yonhap News)
“Shame on you IOC, because you have forgotten 11 members of the Olympic family,” she said in a voice laden with passion.
Saying the IOC was discriminating against the Israelis because of their Jewish faith, Spitzer insisted the dead deserved to be honored as Olympians in an Olympic context and not in the various places where memorials have been held, including Monday’s event at London’s Guildhall.
“You owe it to them,” she declared.
The remarks punctuated an otherwise solemn event attended by several members of the British leadership and senior members of the country’s Jewish community.
Rogge earlier had recalled being an Olympian in 1972, when he competed in sailing. He said he would never forget the tragic events of that year, and that there is no justification for terrorism.
“Even after 40 years, it is painful to relive the most painful moments of the Olympic movement,” he said. “I can only imagine how painful it must be for the families and close personal friends of the victims.”
The proposal for a moment of silence has been controversial, with family members saying Olympic officials have made excuses for 40 years as to why it should not be held. The IOC has argued that the opening ceremony isn’t an appropriate forum for a moment of silence.
koreaherald@heraldcorp.com
