IOC commemorates 1972 Munich victims

LONDON - International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge paid tribute to the 11 Israeli team members who were killed at the 1972 Munich Games at a ceremony at the Athletes Village in London on Monday.

Rogge, who on Saturday had ruled out marking the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre at the London Games opening ceremony, said the 11 victims deserved to be remembered.

A minute's silence was observed following Rogge's comments. Among those who attended the ceremony were Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Olympic organising committee, London Mayor Boris Johnson, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt and several IOC officials.

Sebastian Coe (L), chairman of the London Olympic organizing committee, and other LOCOG, IOC and British government members stand in a minute's silence at a ceremony in the Olympic Park in Stratford in east London, July 23, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

"I would like to start today's ceremony by honoring the memory of 11 Israeli Olympians who shared the ideals and have brought us together in this beautiful Olympic Village.

"The 11 victims of the Munich tragedy believed in that vision. They came to Munich in the spirit of peace and solidarity.

"We owe it to them to keep that spirit alive and to remember them."

Rogge said that while sport had the ability to unite, it could not solve all the world's problems. "As the event of 40 years ago reminds us, sport is not immune from, and cannot cure, all the ills of the world."

Following the ceremony London Mayor Johnson pumped his fist and said "Great speech".

Family members of the athletes, coaches and officials who were killed by Palestinian gunmen during the Munich Olympics have tried for four decades to persuade the IOC to organize an official commemoration.

Their calls were backed in recent days by US President Barack Obama as well as other politicians around the world.