The motto of these Games is 'inspire a generation' but there has been a volley of cries in London to remember the last. The call to do so is ringing painfully in the ears of IOC chief Jacques Rogge, a former Olympic sailor who has so far enjoyed plain sailing at these Games. Sure, there were white tops to the waves - security and seating - as the London Games navigated out of the harbour. But on reaching open waters, the medals started to flow and helmsman Rogge has been taking the salute as any chuffed commodore might when the visibility is crystal clear and all is calm.
But he smacked into an unexpected storm this week when the widow of one of the Israeli athletes killed by terrorists at the 1972 Munich Games led a blistering attack on the IOC when he attended a London memorial service.
Addressing an audience of senior British and Israeli politicians, Ankie Spitzer loaded her verbal cannon and struck home - blaming the IOC for blocking an Israeli request to hold a minute of silence at the opening ceremony of all Olympics for the 11 sportsmen and coaches murdered in Munich 40 years ago.
'Only the IOC remains deaf and blind,' she said, turning from the podium at the Guildhall, London, to face Rogge. 'Is the IOC only interested in power, money and politics? Our loved ones came back in coffins yet they were part of the Olympic family.'
Israel has organised a commemoration on the fringes of Olympic Games since 2000 and Rogge has taken part since the Athens Games in 2004. He held a surprise tribute in the London Olympic Village before the opening ceremony. And he no doubt read the forecast before attending what was bound to be an emotional service - after all, what experienced yachtsman-turned-sport statesman does not look up at the clouds and check for flotsam before deciding whether to don a sou'wester or sun hat when venturing out on deck?
Sensing the emotional front that might greet him in the Guildhall, he delivered a short, tempered speech deploring terrorism, which, though mild, went further than his previous statements on the Munich massacre. 'We are all here today because we share a duty to those innocent victims and to history to make sure the lessons of 1972 are never forgotten,' he said.