Olympic Notes

Costas offers moment of silence

NBC’s Bob Costas noted a controversy over honoring Israeli athletes killed at the Olympics 40 years ago during his coverage of the opening ceremony Friday but stopped short of offering his own protest.

The International Olympic Committee had declined a request to hold a moment of silence during the ceremony to acknowledge the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches killed by Palestinian gunmen in Munich in 1972.

Costas called that decision insensitive during an interview this month and indicated he would call for his own moment of silence when Israeli athletes marched into the Olympic Stadium.

As the athletes marched in Friday, Costas said that IOC President Jacques Rogge led a moment of silence for the late Israelis this week before about 100 people at the Athlete’s Village.

"Still, for many, tonight with the world watching is the true time and place to remember those who were lost and how and why they died," Costas said.

After a 5-second pause, NBC cut to a commercial.

Olympic boxing official found dead

Olympic boxing official Garip Erkuyumcu was found dead in his London hotel room, the International Boxing Association said Friday.

Turkish Boxing Federation head Bayram Altug said a colleague found 73-year-old Erkuyumcu dead in his bed on Thursday.

A heart attack was suspected, but an autopsy was expected to determine the exact cause of death, the Turkish boxing body said.

Cycling activists arrested at Games

London police arrested several members of an amateur cycling club who tried to pedal their way through the security cordon around the Olympic Park during the opening ceremony.

Officers scuffled with several pro-cycling activists Friday as dozens of cyclists were blocked by police vans from proceeding, Scotland Yard said. No serious injuries were reported.

The cyclists were identified as members of a monthly cycling event called "Critical Mass" that normally passes through the area.