The Tokyo Olympics’ opening ceremony on Friday honored the Israeli athletes and coaches killed in the 1972 Munich massacre with a moment of silence, the first time victims of the terrorist attack have been memorialized in an opening ceremony.
Families of the 11 who died had previously requested a minute’s silence during the opening ceremony, but were rebuffed by the International Olympic Committee, according to Reuters. The effort for a moment of silence at the 2012 London Olympics was supported by then-President Barack Obama.
Jacques Rogge, the IOC president at the time, said such a tribute would be inappropriate.
The Tokyo moment of silence also honored COVID-19 victims.
Israeli Prime Minister Natfali Bennett expressed general thanks to Japan, the Jerusalem Post noted.
Here’s the Israeli squad entering the stadium in Tokyo:
Terrorists killed two members of Israel’s 1972 Olympic team and kidnapped nine others, demanding the release of Palestinian prisoners. All nine of those athletes and coaches were eventually killed and a West German police officer was shot to death in a failed rescue attempt.
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