Two articles follow: Israeli Pole Vaulter Hits Gold Arutz 7 August 11, 2002 Israeli pole-vaulter Alex Averbukh soared higher than everyone else - 5.85 meters (19.3 feet) - and was awarded Israel's first-ever gold medal in a major competition. It occurred at the European Athletics Championships in Munich, Germany, last night. Averbukh, who immigrated to Israel in 1999, dedicated his win to his recently deceased father and to the people of Israel. He broke down in tears as the Israeli flag was raised and HaTikvah, Israel's national anthem, was played during the victory ceremony. Averbukh's triumph came a day before this morning's memorial ceremony for 11 Israeli athletes slain by PLO terrorists exactly 30 years ago at the 1972 Munich Olympics. All 17 Israeli athletes competing this year's European championship games, along with the relatives of those killed at the 1972 games, took part in the commemoration. A monument has been erected outside Munich's Olympic stadium in memory of the victims. ---------- Israeli Emotions Run High By Brendan Gallagher August 12, 2002 http://www.sport.telegraph.co.uk No matter what your politics or prejudices, you would have to possess a heart of stone not to concede that the Israeli national anthem, Hatikvah, is one of the most haunting and beautiful in the world. The words were written by Naphtali Herz Imber, an English Jew, but it is the gorgeous Moldovian peasant melody, adapted by Samuel Cohen, that tears at the emotions and has everybody swallowing hard and reaching for a tissue. You can imagine the scene at Munich at 6.53pm on Saturday when pole vaulter Alex Averbukh stood on the podium, a gold medal around his neck. The Star of David was raised and the strains of Hatikvah washed gently and peacefully over the hushed crowd. Not since the memorial service to the 11 Israeli dead 30 years ago has Hatikvah been heard at the Olympic Stadium. In a week brimful of wonderful performances and records - not least by British athletes - this was the moment that will live on, at least for those who stayed on. Averbukh - handsome, happy-go-lucky and extrovert - looked strong and composed for about 15 seconds and then just pulled a protective forearm across his face and wept. He was not the only one but the anthem was doubly poignant for him. Not only was Israel celebrating its first major athletics gold medal in any championship - and in Munich of all places - but he had dedicated the day to his father, Valery, who died earlier in the year. Valery died of cancer and it was the search to find a cure that caused Alex, born in Siberia, to take his father back to the land of his fathers, in Haifa, to seek expert treatment. Haifa became the family home, Israeli citizenship followed and, by 1999, he was competing in the World Championships for his new country. Averbukh's personal journey is not that unusual - people arrive from all over the world to populate Israel, which is both its strength and weakness, but his sporting success story is a singular one and will have brought untold pleasure in that troubled state. Everybody in the generous Munich crowd - they have cheered every winner equally all week - behaved beautifully. The afternoon's athletics had long finished and the cold dank rain that has plagued these championships was setting in for the evening but 20,000 fans delayed the long trek home to honour Averbukh and the Israeli anthem. The goodwill was genuine and tangible. In fact, in the absence of any official tribute to the Israeli athletes of 1972 (massive security issues apparently rendered this practically impossible) this was the moment many had secretly hoped for - a chance to pay their respects. The vanquished German vaulters Lars Borgerling and Tim Lobinger, who won silver and bronze, posed for pictures with Averbukh and all seemed well with the world. And then the stroppy, ponytailed, Lobinger had to tarnish the moment. Apparently he is a cult figure, especially among his female fans. The high priest of grunge, he claims to represent the brash new liberal, we-have-nothing-toapologise-for, funky Germany. After arriving inexplicably late for the packed press conference he fidgeted with impatience on the top table, while Averbukh attempted to answer three simple questions for the world's media. It was his day, in fact it was his week, but he answered modestly and briefly. After all of five minutes, and clearly angry that nobody seemed interested in him, Lobinger - the pre-competition favourite - got up to go. "Nobody wants to talk to us, everybody wants to talk to him, we are not wanted, can we go?" he whinged. Actually Borgerling was acutely embarrassed and had no intention of leaving until he had heard Averbukh's story, via the translator. The young Israeli, apparently, had not moved anywhere in the last nine days in Munich without being accompanied by at least two armed security guards. He and the entire Israel delegation would be holding their own small service at the memorial to the dead in the Olympic Village on Sunday morning. Lobinger was having none of it, however, and was on his way from the top table when a burly German official stepped in and indicated that he should resume his seat or else. Not unintelligent or inarticulate, Lobinger suddenly realised the crassness of his behaviour, set his face in a photogenic smile and reeled off a more acceptable "we must remember but must move on" comment before finding refuge in an ugly sulk. Too little too late my friend. Yet this is an issue that attracts extremes, with the wonderful reception of the Munich public somewhere in the middle. On the bleak rainy Hanns Braun Bridge, by the memorial cross to the Israeli dead, the planned service duly went ahead, but hardly inconspicuously. Roads were closed off for five kilometres in all directions, three police helicopters flew overhead, the security was stifling. Thirty years on the anger, hatred and obsession was still overwhelming. Protected by hundreds of young German police and security marksmen, employed at some cost to the German nation, Ankie Spitzer, daughter of Andrea Spitzer who died in the massacre, accused the German police and army of incompetence and stupidity in 1972. "You didn't manage to save one life," she said. She then accused the International Olympic Committee of failing to commemorate the deaths properly and then concluded: "We will never forgive, we will never forget." An arctic blast on an already chilly morning. One of the rabbis spoke about 11 young athletes arriving in the spirit of sportsmanship and departing in 11 caskets, while, in a mellower moment, Michal Roth, daughter of the Israeli sprinter Esther Roth - who also perished on the night of Sept 6, 1972 - played her guitar and sang an emotional Hebrew melody. It was left to 10,000 metres runner Nili Avramski - she finished last behind Paula Radcliffe earlier in the week - to try and point the way forward. She lives in the Pyrenees and perhaps has a more detached view of things. "The reception by the German people in the stadium was beautiful and moving, the way they stayed on and seemed to understand everything that had gone before. It seemed like the work of a script writer but it wasn't, it was real."