Mayor Says Moment of Silence Will Happen, IOC Says No

7/20/2012

(ATR) Mayor Boris Johnson says London will have a moment of silence for the victims of the 1972 terror attack at the Munich Olympics. The IOC tells Around the Rings it will not take place at at the London Olympics.

In an interview on Twitter, Johnson said Friday: “believe me we will have one. was stunned to find barcelona (20 anniversary) had nothing.”

While every call for a moment of silence has asked for it to take place at the opening ceremony, such a programming decision is outside of the realm of the mayor’s office. But the mayor could have his own ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the tragedy.

Without directly acknowledging Johnson’s tweet, IOC Communications Director Mark Adams said the IOC will pay tribute to the victims of the Munich Olympics at an August 5 event at Guildhall with the Israel Olympic Committee. IOC President Jacques Rogge will be one of the key speakers.

Adams says the IOC will attend an event in Munich on the anniversary of the attack in September.

“Having consulted with the Israeli NOC, we will this year mark the moment, in what we think is the most appropriate way,” Adams said.

“The IOC has paid tribute to the memory of the athletes who tragically died in Munich in 1972 on several occasions and will continue to do so. The memory of the victims and what is the greatest tragedy in Olympic history is not fading away and will not be forgotten by the IOC.”

IOC vice president Thomas Bach told Deutsche Welle that he is opposed to a moment of silence, fearing it could inflame Arab tensions.

He told the German broadcaster he had heard Arab countries could boycott the opening ceremony if a moment of silence was arranged.

This week NBC Olympic host Bob Costas says he would make note of the IOC refusal during his telecast of the opening ceremony. 

"I intend to note that the IOC denied the request," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here’s a minute of silence right now."

Written and reported in London by Ed Hula III.

For general comments or questions, click here.

20 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is www.aroundtherings.com, for subscribers only.

(Copyright 1992 - 2013, all rights reserved. The information in this report may not be published, excerpted, or otherwise distributed in print or broadcast without the express prior consent of Around the Rings.)