Despite calls from many governments and petitions signed by hundreds of thousands of Americans, the International Olympic Committee has refused to allow for a moment of silence at the London Olympic Opening Ceremony to commemorate the Munich 11. "These 11 strong young men went to the Olympics with the excitement for competing against men and women from all over the world. They arrived with the pride of representing Israel and they were massacred only because of their nationality and religion. The attack against the Munich 11 was not just a tragedy for Israelis and Jews, it was an attack on the Olympic spirit," said Opher Aviran, Consul General of Israel.
Consul General of Germany Lutz Gorgens and former American Olympic athlete Jeff Galloway took part in Friday's ceremony as well. Galloway competed in the 1972 Munich games and remembers meeting some of the Israeli athletes. Galloway wore his 1972 Olympic jacket to the ceremony displaying an Olympic pin given to him by an Israeli athlete.
"We are here today to give meaning to the lives of those (Israeli) athletes and to celebrate their courage and dedication," said Galloway.
Consul General Gorgens, a student at the time, recalled being shocked and saddened by the news of the attacks. He praised both the Israeli and German resolve not to negotiate with the terrorists before pointing to the need to continue to combat terrorism today. "As we prepare to watch the Olympic Games in London, we are sadly aware that, unlike in Ancient Greece, war and conflict will not stop during these games. Because we know terrorism and murder are no means to resolve conflicts we must remain vigilant event today while we celebrate," said Gorgens.
The ceremony ended with the planting of 11 trees given by the Jewish National Fund, one for each Israeli athlete killed in 1972, in the Olympic 11 Garden at the MJCCA created by Sharon and Mike Levison.