IOC Response
A memorial service was held the morning of September 6th and flags for all nations were flown at half mast, except for the flags of many of the Arab nations who insisted on their flags being restored to the usual flying position. Olympic officials claim that they would never mix politics with the games. But clearly, if we look at things historically, politics have often been part of the games.
Olympic officials appear to be ambivalent to the horrific events that occurred during the 1972 Munich games and are possibly afraid of upsetting countries with anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian sentiment although many feel that standing against the slaying of Olympic athletes should have nothing to do with the politics in the Middle East.
Olympic officials seem to have given in to the pressure of a possible walkout by Arab nations should the IOC acknowledge publicly during the Olympic games any recognition of the murdered athletes. The threat of a boycott by some countries over any recognition during the games by the IOC is paramount to blackmail. Although the IOC has attended memorial ceremonies organized by the Israeli government, the fact that there was bloodshed during the Olympic games means this is not purely an Israeli issue. It was a crime that goes against everything that the Olympic games stand for.
The right of the Israeli athletes to participate in the Olympic games in a secure environment was violated. The IOC should bare some responsibility for ensuring that measures are put into place by the hosting country to guarantee, to the best of its ability, the safety of every participant. It was important for the IOC to acknowledge the magnitude of this tragedy and the lack of preparation that allowed such a brazen assault to occur. However, the IOC has remained visibly silent in its refusal to allow future Olympic games to publicly honor the slain Israel athletes, even denying a solemn recognition on the 20th anniversary of the event.
- Finland was banned from displaying its own flag, for fear of offending Russia in 1908
- The losing countries of both WW I and WWII were kept out of the games
- Hitler used the 1936 Olympics to promote his ideas of Aryan superiority
- The United States boycotted the 1980 games in Moscow over Soviet troops in Afghanistan
- The Soviets boycotted the 1984 games in Los Angeles in retaliation to the US 1980 boycott prompting 14 Eastern Bloc countries to also withdraw
- China was allowed by the IOC to block access to Internet sites during the 2008 Beijing games
Olympic officials appear to be ambivalent to the horrific events that occurred during the 1972 Munich games and are possibly afraid of upsetting countries with anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian sentiment although many feel that standing against the slaying of Olympic athletes should have nothing to do with the politics in the Middle East.
Olympic officials seem to have given in to the pressure of a possible walkout by Arab nations should the IOC acknowledge publicly during the Olympic games any recognition of the murdered athletes. The threat of a boycott by some countries over any recognition during the games by the IOC is paramount to blackmail. Although the IOC has attended memorial ceremonies organized by the Israeli government, the fact that there was bloodshed during the Olympic games means this is not purely an Israeli issue. It was a crime that goes against everything that the Olympic games stand for.
The right of the Israeli athletes to participate in the Olympic games in a secure environment was violated. The IOC should bare some responsibility for ensuring that measures are put into place by the hosting country to guarantee, to the best of its ability, the safety of every participant. It was important for the IOC to acknowledge the magnitude of this tragedy and the lack of preparation that allowed such a brazen assault to occur. However, the IOC has remained visibly silent in its refusal to allow future Olympic games to publicly honor the slain Israel athletes, even denying a solemn recognition on the 20th anniversary of the event.