IOC going ‘Rogge’ - Munich 11 Widows Express Outrage

At a press conference in London on Wednesday, July 25, 2012, Munich 11 widows Ankie Spitzer and Ilana Romano expressed outrage at the International Olympic Committee‘s (IOC) most recent denial to hold a minute of silence for the 11 Israelis murdered at the 1972 Munich games. Hosted by Israel’s Ambassador to London, Daniel Taub, the two — whose husbands, fencing coach Andrei Spitzer and weightlifter Yossef Romano, were killed by terrorists along with nine of their teammates — will again ask IOC President Jacques Rogge to grant the minute during the opening ceremony of the London games on Friday, July 27. The families of the Munich 11 have been asking the IOC to commemorate the deaths of their loved ones almost since the horrific event took place nearly 40 years ago. They have been rejected every time. The IOC has claimed that doing so would bring politics into the Olympics.

Borne out of a relationship that developed in 2010 when the JCC of Rockland County was chosen to host the upcoming Maccabi Games, ( August 12-17, 2012) ,Spitzer and Romano in conjunction with the JCC started a petition launched on the website change.org. Historically the Maccabi games have honored the memory of the Munich 11 but this year they took it to another level. It has sparked an outpouring of support from around the world, including legislative and government action in the Israel, the United States, Canada, Australia, Italy, Great Britain, Germany, garnering over 103,000 signatures.

One of the largest organizations to get involved with the cause is Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Leszek Sibilski, who is a Sociology professor at Catholic University of America and a former member of the Polish National Olympic cycling team in the Olympics, has been teaching a Sociology in Sports course. His class was introduced to the Munich 11 tragedy, and students from this course got deeply involved in this cause. Sibilski and four students from Catholic University have travelled to London to join the widows, and representatives from JCC, including CEO David Kirschtel, to lobby their cause.

The London Olympics mark the 10th set of games and 40 years since the Israelis were murdered. The family members have been asking that the IOC do the right thing and hold one silent minute in their memory. Spitzer and Romano personally delivered the actual petition to Rogge in London.

With only one day to go, they want to impress upon IOC officials that they can change their decision and finally do the right thing.

However, one man is going to step in and do his part where the IOC will not. NBC’s Olympic anchor, Bob Costas, will have his own minute of silence as the Israeli athletes enter the Olympic Stadium in London. Costas told The Hollywood Reporter what his plans were for the broadcast:

“I intend to note that the IOC denied the request. Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here’s a minute of silence right now.”