The president of the
umbrella organization of France's Jewish communities said it was
“shocking” that France’s soccer team did not visit Auschwitz.
The team is playing in the European championship,
which is being held in Poland and the Ukraine.




According to the JTA news agency, the British, Italian, Dutch and
German teams all visited the Nazi extermination and concentration camp
near Krakow.


Insensitivity









German soccer team blasted over Auschwitz visit / Ynet



Germany's
Jewish community criticizes national soccer team for not sending entire
team to Auschwitz visit, accuses team manager of 'colossal
insensitivity'
Full Story









The French team should have visited the camp “in light of how soccer
players serve as role models for young people,” wrote Dr. Richard
Prasquier, president of CRIF – the umbrella organization of French
Jewish communities.



Prasquier published the statement on June 12 on the CRIF website, under the title: “My (probably unheeded) commentary.”





He added the visit was also necessary because of “the ignorance of many young people,” despite efforts to educate them about the Holocaust.





Prasquier noted that the French team was based at Donetsk in Ukraine,
853 miles from Auschwitz, while the British and Italian teams were
based in Krakow.





“However,
an airplane would have shortened the trip. The fact that the visit was
apparently not even considered is shocking,” Prasquier wrote.



http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4242007,00.html