'Thank you Japan': Olympic Committee recognizes 11 athletes killed in 1972 Olympic Games

During the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, 11 Israeli athletes were taken hostage and killed by a Palestinian terrorist group known as Black September. 

Until now, there has been no recognition of these athletes aside from a short ceremony that occurred two days before the 2016 Olympics, which was held by the International Olympic Committee. 

Finally, the athletes received a moment of silence for the 11 athletes who were murdered. During the opening ceremony of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, a moment of silence was observed. 

The move did not go unnoticed by Houston City Councilwoman Abbie Karmin, who tweeted, “For years I have wondered why there was never recognition of Israeli Olympians murdered in cold blood DURING the #Olympics. Thank you #Japan.”

Many people shared the sentiment that the recognition was a long time coming. It has seemed odd to many that so much time passed before the murdered athletes were recognized with a gesture such as this. 

As it turned out, the Olympic Opening Ceremony had no shortage of emotional and powerful moments. In addition to the moment of silence for the Israeli athletes, there was also a moment of silence held for those that perished due to the coronavirus pandemic. The opening ceremony was held in an empty stadium, a powerful reminder that the battle with the virus continues on as the world once again sees rising rates and low vaccination participation. 

President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach highlighted the challenges that athletes have faced in recent months, saying.

"Through the pandemic, you did not know when you could train again. You did not even know whether this competition would take place at all. You struggled. You persevered. You never gave up. And today, you are making your Olympic dream come true," he said.

The event was topped off with a powerful moment in which Naomi Osaka, world tennis superstar and native of Japan, lit the Olympic torch to signify that the games had begun. In the opening ceremony and throughout the Olympics, there will surely be no shortage of powerful stories and emotional moments, especially given the context of the event and the millions who have been lost to the pandemic in the last 18 months.