Rogge stages minute's silence for 1972 victims

International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge on Monday held a minute's silence to mark the 40th anniversary of the 1972 Munich Olympic attacks which left 11 Israeli athletes dead.

Rogge, who had already ruled out a minute's silence at Friday's opening ceremony of the London Olympics, staged the commemoration as he toured the Athletes Village.

"I want to pay homage to the 11 Israeli athletes who shared the idea of the Olympic truce, who believed that the Olympic Village was a place which brought people together," said Rogge, who interrupted a speech to pay homage.

"These 11 athletes came to Munich in this spirit. They shared this vision."

Rogge was speaking at the conclusion of the IOC's executive commission's visit to the village where he stopped in front of the Olympic Truce Wall sculpture which stands at the entrance to the sprawlimg complex.

All athletes taking part in the Games will sign the sculpture while they are at the Games.

The ceremony was organised as part of the "Giving is Winning" campaign organised by the United Nations in partnership with the IOC.