It was a long struggle that came to an end today (Wednesday).
After 50 years since the terrible massacre at the Olympic Games in Munich of the 11 Israeli athletes, another landmark in the terrible memory in the history of the Olympic Games was closed, when the German government announced the new compensations - which were accepted by the families.
Already at the Montreal Olympics, which were the first held after the massacre, the families of the murdered athletes tried to promote official memorial ceremonies for the murdered and at the same time work to commemorate them throughout the country and the world, and to work in a legal battle for the right to open the archives, to receive an official apology and also to handle the financial issue.
Ceremony for the 11th Munich Martyrs, photo: Udi Citiat
Ahead of London 2012, there was a great awakening on the subject, when a global campaign was launched, in order to convince the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to observe a minute's silence at the opening ceremony of the games.
The idea was supported by public figures including US President Barack Obama and other celebrities.
Despite the great support, the International Olympic Committee rejected the request, but committee officials honored the victims in a ceremony organized by the Israeli Embassy in London.
In addition, every year since the monument was established in Tel Aviv, a ceremony has been held, which every delegation attends before going to the Olympic Games.
On September 10, 2013, the German Thomas Bach was appointed the ninth president of the International Olympic Committee.
Bach met several times with the families, and worked to promote the issue.
We received the first signal in Rio 2016, where, after years of struggle and criticism, the International Olympic Committee decided to hold a commemoration ceremony for the 11 victims of Munich as part of the games in the Olympic Village in Brazil, with the establishment of a communion corner in memory of the victims.
A little over a year ago, the most exciting moment of all came, when during the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the announcer spoke and the thousands of attendees who were approved to enter the stadium, which was mostly empty stands due to the corona virus, stood for a minute of silence in memory of the victims of Munich.
Those present at that historic moment were the widows of Munich - Ilana Romano and Anki Spitzer, who were specially invited by the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach as the guests of honor, together with the Minister of Sports Hili Troper, who did not give up the ceremony despite the arrival of Shabbat and arrived on foot.
Ilana Romano in Rio 2016, photo: Reuters
True, the money won't be the one that will bring back their loved ones who went out to represent the country and came back in coffins, but maybe today, the families will get the little consolation they needed.
The late Yosef Romano, the late David Berger, the late Eliezer Halapin, the late Zev Friedman, the late Mark Slavin, the late Kehat Shor, the late Andrey Spitzer, the late Amitsur Shapira, Moshe Weinberg the late Yosef Gutfreund and the late Jacob Springer.
may them rest in peace.
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