STVERAK: Bob Costas shows courage amongst IOC cowards

By   /   August 1, 2012  /   16 Comments

By Jason Stverak | Franklin Center

Jason Stverak

The Olympic Games are a time when nations put away their differences in the name of friendly competition and sportsmanship. For the State of Israel each Olympiad is a sad reminder of terrorism and not a celebration of the Olympic Spirit.

Forty years ago this September, 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were murdered at the Olympic Games in Munich by the terrorist group Black September. At the time, people around the world were reminded that even though a generation had passed since the Holocaust – not enough had changed.

The Games of the XXX Olympiad in London began with an opening ceremony that included James Bond and the Queen of England jumping out of a plane, a tribute to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service and a memorable performance of “Hey Jude” by Paul McCartney. What it did not include was a tribute or moment of silence for the 11 Israelis murdered 40 years ago.

Despite calls from President Obama and leaders in Canada, Germany, Italy and Australia, International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge refused to permit any mention of the “Munich Massacre” during the opening ceremony.

Still, the world would remember what happened that terrible September day in Germany, and the voice of decency would come from one journalist calling the ceremony as he would a sporting event.

NBC sportscaster Bob Costas has been broadcasting the Olympic Games for 20 years. He has called some of the most memorable sports moments over the past three decades. This time, his play-by-play included the most important color-commentary of his career.

As the Israeli Olympic team walked the track of Olympic Stadium, Costas made sure the world remembered Munich:

“The Israeli athletes now enter behind their flag-bearer Shahar Zubari,” said Costas. “These games mark the 40th anniversary of the 1972 tragedy in Munich, when 11 Israeli coaches and athletes were murdered by Palestinian terrorists. There have been calls from a number of quarters for the IOC to acknowledge that, with a moment of silence at some point in tonight’s ceremony. The IOC denied that request, noting it had honored the victims on other occasions. And, in fact, this week [IOC president] Jacques Rogge led a moment of silence before about 100 people in the athlete’s village. Still, for many, tonight, with the world watching is the true time and place to remember those who were lost, and how and why they died.”

Costas than paused and there was silence for over five seconds as television camera showed the Israeli athletes continuing their march in the stadium.

He then broke for commercial with, “We’re back to London after this.”

Costas had the courage – humanity – to pay tribute to athletes murdered during Olympic Games. I applaud him for his ability to embrace the Olympic Spirit and pay tribute to the young athletes who were murdered 40 years ago for no other reason than being Israeli.

Jason Stverak is president of the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity.

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  • Noteverythingisaboutu

    the Olympics is not the place to push the Israeli agenda.

  • http://profile.yahoo.com/PKCUIBNYT54GT3GBS3CKO7JQHY Larry

    I would support this commemoration if Israel weren’t so intent on promoting war and oppressing people of Arab descent.

  • Brian

    Thank you Bob Costas!  The recognition of the Munich Massacre (and any conflict associated with it) shouldn’t have been about about Israel vs. Arab nations or about Judaism or Zionism. The recognition should have been focused on 11 athletes who were living out their dreams on the world’s  largest athletic stage and were denied what they dedicated their lives to achieving.

    The Olympics are about dedication, perseverance, and performance.   These were athletes committed to the motto,  ”faster, higher, stronger”.  Celebrate their commitment, mourn their loss and recognize that the world (if only for a short time) should focus on the simple, positive Olympic ideals.   We’ve got enough conflict, war and hatred – don’t let it take away from OUR Olympics!

  • Luke

    And, we’d need more than just one minute of silence to honor the victims of Israeli aggression on others since 1972.

  • Rich

    So I suppose if US athletes were similarly killed, one could provide the same argument against a moment commemorating the event. The US has committed many atrocities and promoted war therefore their athletes deserve no recognition.

  • jefffromseattle

    However, in the 116 years of the modern Olympics, only one country’s athletes have been murdered by terrorists at the Olympic games. There was little to no security provided for the athletes at the 1972 Munich games. The IOC has blood on their hands; their negligence b/c of a lack of security contributed to the murder of the Israeli’s. This has nothing to do with politics. It has everything to do with doing the right thing. The IOC could have decided to have a moment of silence at the opening ceremonies, and that would have been satisfactory. It’s an embarrassment that the Olympics couldn’t even make that smallest of acknowledgments to those slain Israeli athletes at the opening ceremony.

  • Freemarketguru

    This is a great article. The conflict in the Middle-East can be described easily. If the Arabs had all the guns we would have a second Holocaust. If the Jews has all the weapons we would have peace. End of discussion.

  • lacm

    Hurray to Bob Costas for his courageous commentary on the 11 Isrealites murdered but BOO to his bringing up race in the commentary about Gabby winning the gold. PLEASE, let the race stuff DIE. Most Americans want to get past the race thing. But the MEDIA won’t let it alone! You cheapen Gabby’s win as well as her white teammates and her russian-american coach’s support of her and – oh yes- her other asian-american coach’s support too. Where does it end!?!

  • lacm

    Agreed!

  • Cato

    I disagree completely. Costas’ comments on race were tactful, accurate and as a reporter, he reported an overlooked fact. Gabby’s race is significant to all the little girls who look like her and it is a testament to the greatness of America that is is no longer a bar to great international achievement. Not mentioning “the race stuff” is not getting past it, it is denial.

  • Chris

    Thankyou Bob for making up a non-racist moment into a very racist commentary. What a joke!

  • Seriously?

    So some innocent slain athletes would not deserve a respectful moment of remembrance because of the actions of their government?

  • Terri the Terrible

    You go Costas!!! American’s need to start remembering what it means to be American, and to remind the world of the innocent people worldwide who are ruthlessly murdered, if for no other reason, than for being free and a part of democracy, and or, our allies. God bless! Mrs. Hansen, Mississippi, USA

  • sbrooks103

    Good for him! One side of me says that the Israelis should have simply stopped in the middle of the procession for a minute, but the other side says that the IOC probably would have punished THEM.

  • sbrooks103

    The Israelis aren’t intent on promoting war, they are intent on defending themselves. If the Arabs had all gthe guns, there would be another Holocaust, if the Israelis had all the guns there would be peace.

  • sbrooks103

    Recognizing the MURDER of Olympic athlegtes AT THE OLYPMICS is part of the Israeli agenda?!