Andrew Dismore

Labour London Assembly Member Andrew Dismore has demanded at the first Mayor’s Question Time since May’s elections that  the Mayor stands up to the IOC in support of the campaign for a minute’s silence to commemorate the victims of terror at the Munich Olympics of 1972.The call follows the rejection by the International Olympic Committee to mark the anniversary of the massacre.

Andrew Dismore, Labour London Assembly member said: “The massacre of 1972 must be remembered at the London Games, the 10^th Olympiad since Munich.  11 athletes and members of their coaching staff lost their lives. It is now 40 years since these terrible events took place, and it is vital that we mark this anniversary by the world uniting  to stand against  hatred and terrorism. The Olympics are an iconic and unique symbol of world peace through the celebration of sporting achievement.

I was astounded at how little Mayor Johnson knew about the campaign, as it has received widespread coverage, and despite notice of the question in advance he was not aware the IOC had so far refused to agree. In response to my raising the issue, the Mayor has agreed to raise it again with the IOC.

By so far refusing the simple and dignified request for a minute’s silence, the International Olympic Committee are making the shabby political statement that they care more about the Olympics as big business than they do about victims of terrorism at the Olympic Games. I strongly suspect that if the victims had been of any other nationality than Israeli, there would not be any question of a refusal. So much for the Olympic ideal at the hands of the IOC!

The IOC are an unelected, unaccountable, faceless global big business super-quango who repeatedly ride rough-shod over host-cities’ wishes. It is time they listened to Londoners. After all we are footing a large slice of the huge cost of these games through our taxes and ticket purchases.

Mayor Johnson must not give in to the pusillanimous IOC and must demand one minute’s silence during the opening ceremony. That’s why I  challenged him to do so at the first Mayor’s Question Time of the new Assembly “