International Olympic Committee Rules Out Minute of Silence for 1972 Munich Killings...Again

(The Blaze/AP) -- Jacques Rogge, the president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has rejected the latest calls for a minute of silence to be observed at the opening of the London Olympics for the 11 Israeli team members killed by Palestinian gunmen at the 1972 Munich Games.

The IOC has come under pressure from politicians in the United States, Israel, and Germany to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre at next Friday's opening ceremony, even receiving a call from President Obama, according to reports.

Rogge maintains that the IOC will pay homage to the slain Israeli athletes and coaches at a reception in London and will attend a ceremony in Germany on Sept. 5., but there will be no public commemoration at the Opening Ceremony.

"We feel that the Opening Ceremony is an atmosphere that is not fit to remember such a tragic incident," he explained.

Yahoo has a "look back" at the horrifying events:

Rogge's comments have not gone over well with, among others, Bob Costas of NBC, whose network has paid billions for the broadcast rights for the Olympics.

"I intend to note that the IOC denied the request," Costas told the Hollywood Reporter.

"Many people find that denial more than puzzling but insensitive. Here's a minute of silence right now," he continued.

Yahoo Sports relates:

Costas appears to be joining the efforts of Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon and Ankie Spitzer, whose husband was among the Munich victims. Ayalon said the IOC refusal of his request to commemorate the victims was "unacceptable." Spitzer, meanwhile, has been petitioning to have a moment of silence during the Opening Ceremony, to no avail.

"The IOC's refusal is pure discrimination," she said.

Spitzer added, according to the New York Post, that the IOC was concerned "the Arab delegations will get up and leave."

She responded: "It’s OK; if they don’t understand what the Olympics are all about, let them leave."

(H/T: Weasel Zippers)