Fair Play
Fairplay
Football can help heal the wounds
of the past
During Germany's recent trip to Israel
for a friendly match, members of the
German national team visited the
memorial to victims of the Holocaust.
This visit received widespread covera
ge in the Israeli media, and the manner
in which the German representatives
conducted themselves was the subject
of considerable praise.
"The German" national players left the
Holocaust Museum with serious and
sombre expressions, "reported one
newspaper: "They did not say a word."
Other newspapers spoke of the deep
emotion felt by the German players and
officials. The most important aspect of
the German team's visit to the memorial
was the laying of a wreath in memory of
the Holocaust victims. German national
coach Berti Vogts, striker Jürgen
Klinsmann and German FA president
Egidius Braun were prominent in this
ceremony. The visit was felt by Israel's
media to have been of considerable
diplomatic significance, and provided
further proof that sport, and football in
this particular case, has a role to play in
helping to heal the wounds of the past....
Members of the German
national team visit the
memorial to victims of
Holocaust (from left to right):
Jürgen Klinsmann, German
ambassador Theodor Wallau,
Berti Vogts, Museum Vice-
President Jochanan Bein,
and Egidius Braun.
FOTO:
FOTOAGENTUR KUNZ
The name of the game
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