Include Nazis in German hall of fame for athletes?
Germany has founded a pantheon of 40 sporting heroes including soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer and champion boxer Max Schmeling. Critics say some athletes on the list were members of the Nazi party. But the organizers insist that the Hall of Fame reflect the ravages of German history.
Germany inaugurated a Hall of Fame for its sporting legends on Tuesday in a ceremony marred by criticism that some of the 40 athletes selected were members of the Nazi Party.
World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer has made it into the "Hall of Fame," along with boxing legend Max Schmeling, skiing champion Rosi Mittermeier and football ace Uwe Seeler.
Part of the aim in honoring role models is to encourage young people to take up sport, especially in light of doping scandals that have tainted professional sports in recent years.
But some German commentators have already labelled it a "Hall of Shame" and criticized the jury, made up of sports officials and journalists and headed by Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, for choosing five sportsmen who were Nazi Party members.
Read entire article at Spiegel Online
Germany inaugurated a Hall of Fame for its sporting legends on Tuesday in a ceremony marred by criticism that some of the 40 athletes selected were members of the Nazi Party.
World Cup winner Franz Beckenbauer has made it into the "Hall of Fame," along with boxing legend Max Schmeling, skiing champion Rosi Mittermeier and football ace Uwe Seeler.
Part of the aim in honoring role models is to encourage young people to take up sport, especially in light of doping scandals that have tainted professional sports in recent years.
But some German commentators have already labelled it a "Hall of Shame" and criticized the jury, made up of sports officials and journalists and headed by Interior Minister Wolfgang Schäuble, for choosing five sportsmen who were Nazi Party members.