The International Olympics Committee has awarded the Olympiart prize to Mikis Theodorakis. This Prize was “established in 1992 to recognise artists who contribute through their work to the promotion of sport, young people and peace.” It was presented at the close of the 116th IOC Session in Athens.

Here’s part of a recent interview with Theodorakis from the Israeli newspaper Haaretz:

“Question: Mr. Theodorakis, on November 4, 2003 you said in this house the words that shocked Jews and non-Jews across the world. You said that the Jewish people are at the root of evil. What did you mean?

“Answer: “For me the root of evil today is the policy of President Bush. It is a fascist policy. I cannot understand how is it that the Jewish people, who have been the victims of Nazism, can support such a fascist policy. No other people in the world support those policies but Israel! This situation saddens me. I am a friend of Israel. I am a friend of the Jewish people. But the policy of Sharon and the support for the policy of Bush darkens the image of Israel. I am afraid that Sharon is going to lead the Jews – just as Hitler led the Germans – to the root of evil.”

“Even today, 10 months later, you don’t think you made a mistake when you uttered those words?”

“No, but it’s important for me to emphasize that I never said that the Jews are the root of evil. I said they are at the root of evil.”

Can someone remind me why exactly we want to bring the Olympics to NYC.