I am not sure you are aware of the fact that for the duration of the London Olympics, all subway stations in London will be renamed after the greatest Olympians in history. 13 Hungarians are included. Not surprisingly the choices are almost obvious:
Three-time gold medal winner water polo players: Gyarmati and Karpati (1952-1964)
Three time gold medal winner boxer: Laszlo Papp (1948-1956)
“Million times” gold medal winner fencers: Gerevich and Karpati (1932-1960!!!)
Five times gold medal winner swimmer: Kristina Egerszegi (1988-1996)
Four times gold medal winner swimmer: Tamas Darnyi (1992-1996)
Three-times gold-medal winner legendary pentathlon champion: Balczo (1960-1972)
Legendary rapid-pistol champion (who changed hand after an accident):Karoly Takacs (1948-1952)
And finally: Four members of the 1952 Gold medalist Hungarian soccer team: Puskas, Kocsis, Bozsik and Czibor.
The subway station at the entrance to the main stadium, Wembley, is named after Puskas.The idea to temporarily rename London tube stations is great - I’d give a big hug to the organisers. If … if they hadn’t ducked their noses into the sand and shown thei buttocks to the world when it came to the question of commemorating the slaying of 11 Israeli athletes and coaches by Palestinian terrorists 40 years ago during the Munich (then West-Germany) Olypics. This is what the Australian press writes about the scandal, commenting their Prime Minister’s letter addressed to Mr. Rogge, President of the IOC and the London organisers.
JULIA Gillard has written to the president of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge, formally asking for a moment of silence in London in honour of the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches murdered by terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympics.
In the letter to Mr Rogge, who has rejected a growing global push on the issue, the Prime Minister writes: “The government of Australia extends its warmest regards and best wishes for the upcoming summer Games in London.
“When Olympic athletes from around the world gather, it is a time for rededication to the enduring values of peace, hope and the human spirit that underpin the Olympic Games.
“The occasion of the Olympic Games in London this summer also marks the 40th anniversary of the terrible tragedy that occurred in Munich during the 1972 Olympic Games.
“On behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, I am writing respectfully to express support for the observation of a moment of silence to be held at the 2012 London Olympic Games opening ceremony, or at an appropriate time during the Games, so that the Olympic movement can honour, before the world, the memory of those whose lives were lost during that horrific event.”
London Olympics organisers, backing Mr Rogge, have ruled out a commemoration during the opening ceremony, but have said a tribute will be held at a separate ceremony at London’s Guildhall.
Australian Olympic Committee spokesman Mike Tancred last night said Australian officials also supported the tribute being held outside the opening ceremony, as it had been regularly since 1972.
The June 30 letter from Ms Gillard came in the same week the Australian parliament unanimously called on the IOC to observe one minute’s silence.
The June 25 private member’s motion was moved by Liberal MP for Bradfield Paul Fletcher and seconded by Jewish Liberal member for Kooyong Josh Frydenberg.
Mr Fletcher said the massacre had been “seared on world consciousness”, while Mr Frydenberg said that unless the IOC had a change of heart, there was “something significantly amiss” in London.
“Some 40 years ago, at the 20th Olympiad in Munich, West Germany, the world was shocked when 11 Israelis —six coaches and five athletes — were murdered by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September,” Mr Frydenberg said.
“This Olympics in London is the perfect opportunity to right the wrongs of the past.”
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