Olympic Committee Head Warns of Rising Antisemitism in Sports

Yael Arad, chairwoman of the Olympic Committee of Israel, stated that antisemitism has infiltrated even the strongholds of competitive sports during the 54th annual commemoration ceremony for the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered at the 1972 Munich Olympics. The ceremony, held in Tel Aviv, honored the victims of the Black September attack.

Arad highlighted the enduring memory of the Munich victims and the continuity of their families, noting that several widows recently celebrated their 80th birthdays. She emphasized the need for increased effort, precision, and professionalism as Israeli sports prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, acknowledging the impact of ongoing security challenges on athletes and sports associations.

"Antisemitism is present everywhere in the world and has penetrated the strongholds of Olympic, Paralympic, and general competitive sports," Arad declared. She stressed the importance of Israel's presence at all events and competitions, positioning Israeli athletes as national consensus figures and exceptional ambassadors of Israeli spirit and world Jewry. Arad also pointed to the need to combat adversaries not only through athletic prowess but also in the diplomatic arena.

Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar echoed these sentiments, vowing that Israel would not allow attempts to isolate it from the global sports scene through boycotts, threats, hatred, and antisemitism. He pledged that Israel would stand by its athletes, fight for them in every institution and federation, and continue to compete and proudly raise the Israeli flag worldwide.

The ceremony was attended by Israeli sports officials, including Olympic Committee CEO Adi Bichman, and representatives from the German embassy in Israel, alongside the families of the 11 fallen athletes. The event, a joint effort between the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality's Sports Authority and the Olympic Committee of Israel, took place amidst ongoing security operations and international sports support.