Editor, Daily Nexus,

Since the Munich Massacre in 1972, those wishing to honor the dead have requested the International Olympic Committee do so as well, but the IOC has resisted, citing concerns about protests from Arab representatives.

Toni Khoury of Lebanon, an IOC executive board member, said a moment of silence to honor the slain Israelis at the ceremony would be a political statement. He said, “Believe me, like all human beings I was – I am – sick about the deaths of all the [Israeli] athletes. In my opinion, with all due respect … it is best not to interfere politically.”

At the memorial service held the morning of Sept. 6, the world’s flags hung at half-staff, except for those of 10 Arab nations, which had insisted the night before that their flags be raised high.

An IOC staff member said the committee had received “threatening letters on this question from six or seven different Arab national Olympic committees,” according to the minutes.

After the attack, no other country joined Israel’s plea to leave the Games.

The 11 dead are now recalled in monuments and plaques at various sites around the world. None has been dedicated at the IOC’s instigation.

JOEY TARTAKOVSKY

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