There was a poignant celebration at the Athens Olympics yesterday. A long time coming.
Gal Fridman closed his eyes and enjoyed a sweet sound never before heard at an Olympic Games — the strains of Israel's national anthem playing in honor of the winner of a gold medal.Posted by Alan at August 26, 2004 06:49 AMFridman yesterday won the windsurfing competition at the Athens Olympics, giving the Jewish state the first gold medal of the nation's 56-year history. As the blue-and-white flag of Israel was pulled up the flagpole, Fridman and a large contingent of Israelis sang the "Hatikvah" — The Hope.
And when the ceremony was over, Fridman dedicated his victory to some of his countrymen who weren't there — the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed by terrorists at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
"I'm sure they're watching us," Fridman said, draped in an Israeli flag. "We think about them all the time. They're always in our mind. When I get home, I will go to the memorial place for them and show them the gold medal."
For 32 years, Israel has competed at the Olympics under the shadow of tragedy. Before each Olympics, Israel's team visits a memorial in Tel Aviv erected in honor of those killed in Munich. It also holds a private memorial service at each Olympics.
This year's service was attended by International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge. That is something his long-serving predecessor, Juan Antonio Samaranch, never did — a fact that angered many Israelis.
Since the Munich Games, Israeli athletes have competed at the Olympics with apprehension and under extra security. In Athens, an extra fence protects Israel's 36-athlete delegation in the Olympic Village compound, and the Shin Bet secret service watches over the team.
The Israelis say they have been greeted warmly in Athens.