The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is taking new steps to mourn the dead during the Olympics — but stopping short of holding a moment of silence during opening ceremonies to commemorate the 11 Israelis killed at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.
Under measures that are set to go into effect at next year’s games in Rio de Janeiro, a special area will be set up in the Olympic village for athletes to mourn the loss of family or friends, and a “moment of reflection” will be observed during the closing ceremony to remember those who have died during any Olympic Games.
The moves were approved by the IOC executive board after Olympic leaders faced criticism for refusing a moment of silence for the Israeli victims during the opening of the 2012 London Olympic Games, and for preventing athletes from wearing black armbands during the competition in tribute to deceased friends, relatives or fellow competitors.
Photo: Reuters
“We want to give the athletes the opportunity to express their mourning in a dignified way and environment in the Olympic village, where representatives of the whole world are living peacefully under the same roof,” IOC president Thomas Bach said at the close of a three-day board meeting in Rio on Saturday.
At the inauguration of the mourning area in the Rio village, Bach said the IOC “will remember all those who have lost their lives at the Olympic Games.”
He said that could include the Munich victims as well as Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died in a training crash the day before the opening of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games.
Asked whether this week’s decision was intended as a way to honor the Munich victims, Bach said: “It can give the opportunity to address this, but this was not the only reason.”
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