Despite the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) refusal to hold a minute of silence to commemorate the 11 Israeli athletes who were brutally murdered 40 years ago at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, NBC sportscaster Bob Costas led his own, improvised, tribute as the 2012 Israeli athletes walked into Olympic Stadium Friday.

"There have been calls from a number of quarters for the IOC to acknowledge that with a moment of silence at some point in tonight´s ceremony, the IOC denied that request noting it had honored the victims on other occasions," Costas said on the telecast, as the athletes entered the stadium behind flag bearer Shahar Zubari.

"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," he continued.

Following his comments, Costas went silent for five-seconds before going to a commercial break.

A short ceremony was also held at Israel’s embassy in London on Friday, July 27, followed by a global minute of silence.