NBC Olympics coverage omits tribute to U.K. terror victims

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Broadcast giant NBC has chosen not to carry a tribute to the victims of the July 7 attacks in London that ran as part of the 2012 Summer Olympics, according to Deadspin. The 2005 attacks took the lives of 52 people and injured scores of others when bombs exploded on subway trains and one of London’s signature red double-decker buses on the day after the city was chosen to host the 2012 Olympics.

The role the tragedy played in bringing Londoners together and the message of triumph conveyed by the tribute, which featured 52 dancers and a performance of the song “Abide with Me,” by Scottish singer Emeli Sandé, makes it all the more incomprehensible that NBC would chose not to include it.

Deadspin has transcribed the narration from this portion of the ceremony, which reads, “Ladies and gentlemen, please pause silent for our memorial wall for friends and family who can’t be here tonight. The excitement of that moment in Singapore seven years ago when England won the games was tempered the next day with sorrow from the events of July 7th that year. A wall of remembrance for those no longer here to share in this event.”

NBC’s coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London has already drawn ire from various quarters, not just for its decision to broadcast the events three hours after they occur on the east coast and six hours afterward on the west coast, but also for what some see as the banality of its commentary.

Influential liberal blogger and media critic Digby said of the omission of the 7/7 remembrance, “Apparently, American broadcasters believe there’s no purpose in showing any tribute to victims of terrorist attacks that aren’t 9/11. (We sure as hell have no problem showing those. Over and over.)”

Instead of the tribute, American audiences were treated to what Deadspin called “a lengthy and meaningless Ryan Seacrest interview with Michael Phelps.”

Watch video of the segment, embedded via Mediaite, below: