Take time to honor slain Israeli Olympians

Can we devote a minute of the Olympic Games to the memory of these athletes?

In September 1972, eight members of the Palestinian Black September terrorist group broke into the athletes village in Munich and attacked the Israeli team. Two of the athletes were immediately killed and nine were taken hostage, only to be executed by the terrorists when the German police bungled a rescue attempt after a 20-hour standoff (a German policeman, as well as five of the terrorists, also were killed).

The families of the 11 murdered Israeli athletes have requested a minute of silence at the opening ceremony of each Olympics since the 1976 Montreal Games to convey respect and to promote peace. But each time their request has been turned down by the International Olympic Committee.

This year is the 40th anniversary of the Munich massacre. I think it's well past time to honor these athletes.

Gene Hinders

Hudson