Peres won’t go to Olympics, to avoid Sabbath desecration

President Shimon Peres announced on Tuesday that he will not travel to the 2012 Olympics in London, set to begin on Friday, July 27.

Peres had originally intended to attend the opening ceremony, but as it begins on a Friday night, and the president was unable to find a hotel within walking distance of the Olympic Park, he opted to cancel his trip rather than violate the Sabbath while representing the state of Israel.

A statement released by the president’s office on Tuesday said that Peres “wishes Israel’s Olympic athletes the best of luck, and, along with the entire country, is keeping his fingers crossed that the team will return with medals and impressive achievements.”

On Sunday, Israeli delegation head Efraim Zinger told reporters that he expected Peres to attend the reception ceremony for the delegation in London on Wednesday, July 25. It would have been the first time the head of state would be present for such an occasion, he said.

Aaron Kalman contributed to this report.