Israel
Paris Olympics hold 1972 Munich Massacre memorial to honour Israeli victims
Israel have won a record number of medals at the Games already
August 7, 2024 14:13
Israel have won a record number of medals at the Games already
August 7, 2024 14:13A solemn memorial ceremony was held on Tuesday at the Israeli Embassy in Paris to honour the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were tragically killed during the 1972 Munich Olympics.
This event brough together dignitaries, family members, and representatives from the international sports community.
Speaking at the memorial ceremony Olympic chief Thomas Bach emphasised the enduring spirit of the Olympic Games as a symbol of peace and unity.
He said: “Some may consider this naive, but in our world torn apart by the far too many wars and conflicts, the Olympic Games prove that we can still bring the entire world together.
“The athletes are living this culture of peace right here in Paris.
“Athletes from National Olympic Committees whose countries are currently in war or conflict with each other, are living peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village.
"This culture of peace was, is and always will be at the heart of our Olympic community.”
Bach did not speak about the current threats Israeli athletes have faced at the Games or the calls to boycott/ban the Israeli delegation from taking part in the Games.
But his presence at the event reinforces that Olympic officials continue to welcome Israeli athletes to the Games and rejecting calls to ban them from competing.
Yael Arad, the president of the Olympic Committee of Israel, said that the presence of 88 Israeli athletes at the Paris Games 52 years after Munich, as well as at every Games in the years in between, sends a message: “We are here. Israeli sport was not destroyed. Terror did not win.”
Israel so far has won six medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a new record for the Jewish state: bronze for judoka Peter Paltchik, silver for judoka Inbar Lanir, silver for judoka Raz Hershko, silver for gymnast Artem Dolgopyat, silver for windsurfer Sharon Kantor and gold for windsurfer Tom Reuveny.