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49 Flames:

Jewish Athletes and the Holocaust

During the Holocaust, men and women, young and old, rich and poor, famous and unknown, were killed. Athletes were not spared, and prominent sportsmen and women from all over Europe were murdered at the hands of the Nazis. This exhibition aims to tell the story of the Holocaust through the many stories of Jewish sportsmen and women who died during the war.

Sports have an enormous power to unite people and by sharing the stories of these athletes, we hope to inspire future generations to always fight against antisemitism, discrimination and racism, wherever they find it.

EXHIBITION >>

ROMAN KANTOR
Roman Józef Kantor was a Polish Olympic épée fencer.
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GERTRUDE KLEINOVA
Gertrude was a three-time world champion table tennis player.
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LILLI HENNOCH
Lilli Henoch was a German Jewish track and field athlete.
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ANDRAS SZEKELY
András Székely was a Hungarian Jewish swimmer.
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KAREN POLLOCK CBE, CEO Holocaust Educational Trust

The history of the Holocaust is one of individuals, some of whom survived, but most of whom did not. Football unites people from different backgrounds and countries with a shared desire to win for their team.

PRESIDENT REUVEN RIVLIN

President of Israel

This project, honouring Jewish sportsmen and women whose lives were taken from them during the Holocaust while focusing on raising awareness about the evils of antisemitism in general and in sport in particular, highlights issues very close to my heart.

EMMA HAYES

Manager Chelsea FC Women

I am proud that we as a club use our platforms to celebrate diversity and use our voices to stand up against injustices and all forms of racism and anitsemitism.

SIR BEN HELFGOTT MBE, Athlete and Holocaust Survivor

As I was marching in the stadium during the opening ceremony, I kept thinking that not only was this a personal triumph for me, but I felt that I was representing all the potential Jewish sportsmen and women who could have been there had they not been killed by the Nazis.