ByJonathan Kalmus, Jonathan Kalmus
Lord Coe has praised the Community Security Trust’s work during the 2012 London Olympics and its assistance to the security services in protecting Israeli competitors.
The peer — who chaired the Games organising committee — addressed 400 guests at a CST dinner at Manchester United’s Old Trafford stadium.
“I didn’t know a great deal about the CST until the Games — and the great deal of support they offer to the Jewish community for obvious historical reasons,” he said.
“The Israeli team were a clear security risk and I am very grateful for their [the CST’s] work.” Lord Coe added that he had been “seared by the awful memory of Munich”, the 1972 attack by Palestinian terrorists on the Israeli Olympic team.
He was also interviewed by fellow former athletics star Steve Cram — now a BBC commentator — during which he revealed that his father had worked in a Sheffield factory owned by CST chair Gerald Ronson.
Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis praised CST personnel as “amazing, remarkable, selfless individuals” and the event was hosted by Manchester United director Mike Edelson.