The British Zionist Federation has decided to ask people to make their own personal commemoration of the murder of 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games, following the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) decision not to incorporate a minute’s silence into the opening ceremony of the London Olympics this Friday.
At 11.00am (London time) on the morning of the opening ceremony (Friday 27th July 2012), the Federation asked people to stop what they are doing and to stand in contemplation silence for one minute to remember the 11 victims.
A Facebook page has been set up for this event and can be found by typing in ‘Minute for Munich’ into the search box on Facebook.
The Zionist Federation said in it will also be holding a short webcast to mark the event which will include a memorial prayer and the lighting of candles in the presence of Israel’s Ambassador to Britain, Daniel Taub.
Alan Aziz, the Zionist Federation’s Executive Director, commented, “We believe it is wrong that the IOC refuses to commemorate the Munich massacre at the opening ceremony. We must not let people forget and the groundswell of support that our campaign has received has demonstrated that not only do people remember the horrific events of Munich, but they also understand the importance of remembering it and the innocent victims of that fateful day.”
“Let us celebrate the Olympic Games as it brings the world together as a family, but don’t let it forget those it has lost.”

EJP