London Olympics may include memorial for Israeli victims of Munich attack

The upcoming London Olympic Games may include a memorial for the Israeli victims of a terror attack at the Munich Games 40 years earlier.

The opening ceremony memorial will, however, likely not include a moment of silence, for which Israeli officials have unsuccesfully campaigned.

The International Olympic Committee has come under increasing pressure from Israel, world officials and family members of the victims to acknowledge the terror attack at the 1972 Munich Games during the opening ceremony. Last month, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle wrote to IOCF head Jacques Rogge urging him to allow for a moment of silence.

According to a report in the London Jewish Chronicle Thursday, Lord Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games, has told his staff to prepare for a memorial ceremony during the opening event, though it was not clear what form it would take.

The report added that it would likely not be a moment of silence for the 11 members of the Israeli team killed by Palestinian gunmen.

Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon, who has led the campaign for a moment of silence, welcomed the report.

“The news that there might be a memorial during the opening ceremony for the Israeli sportsmen murdered in Munich is positive, but I still the urge the IOC to accept what is being asked from them from around the world, namely a one minute silence at the opening ceremony,” Ayalon told The Times of Israel. “Such a request has been made by many government and parliaments, which showed that it was never a political or a contentious demand, but a request for a basic humanitarian gesture.”

Politicians from Britain, the US, Australia and other places have joined Israel in calling for the memorial, which the IOC rejected for fear of “politicizing” the Games.

The Olympics are set to kick off on July 27 in London.