Herzog to attend Olympic opening ceremony, 1972 Munich commemoration in Paris, will also visit Rome

President Isaac Herzog will fly to Paris and Rome this week to participate in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games and to meet heads of state, his office announces.

Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog will take off on Wednesday for Paris to place a mezuzah on the Israeli building in the Olympic Village, and mark 52 years since the Munich Olympics massacre with bereaved families, the Israeli delegation, and the Olympic Committee. He will also watch the Israel-Mali soccer game.

The next day, Herzog will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, President Sergio Mattarella, and Foreign Minister Antoni Tajani in Rome.

He will return to Paris that evening for a reception hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron for heads of state arriving for the opening of the games.

On Friday, Herzog will hold a working meeting with Macron. He will also meet members of France’s Jewish community, and attend the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

According to his office, Herzog will walk back to his hotel from the ceremony, as it takes place on Shabbat.

“It is important specifically at this time that Israel appears with all its vigor and strength on the world stage, and especially on an important stage like the Olympics,” says Herzog.

He calls Israel’s participation “an expression of the strong and exciting Israeli spirit.”

“Even in these moments, which are exciting and full of hope, we think about the hostages and their families every second,” he continues. “This is our ultimate goal and duty as a country – not to forget for a moment and to constantly act for their release, in Israel and abroad.”

Herzog will also meet Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof and Paraguay’s President Santiago Peña. as well as other world leaders.