USTA apologizes for Nazi-era version of German anthem sung before Fed Cup match

[mahatmakanejeeves]

USTA apologizes for Nazi-era version of German anthem sung before Fed Cup match

By Des Bieler February 13 at 2:00 AM

The United States Tennis Association apologized after playing a Nazi-era version of Germany’s national anthem before a Fed Cup match Saturday between the two countries. One German player said of the gaffe, “I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life.”

The incident took place in Hawaii, and it involved a local opera singer performing the first verse from “Deutschlandlied,” which was written in 1841 and is still Germany’s anthem. However, the modern version only uses the third verse, because the initial stanza, which includes “Deutschland, Deutschland uber alles, uber alles in der Welt” (“Germany, Germany, above all, above all in the world”), was used as Nazi propaganda.

“The USTA extends its sincerest apologies to the German Fed Cup team and all of its fans for the performance of an outdated national anthem prior to today’s Fed Cup competition,” the tennis body said in a statement. “In no way did we mean any disrespect. This mistake will not occur again, and the correct anthem will be performed for the remainder of this first-round tie.”

While the anthem was being performed, German players tried to sing the usual verse over it. “We were left shocked and did not know how to react,” Andrea Petkovic said. ... Petkovic, who lost on Saturday to American Alison Riske, said afterward, “I thought it was the epitome of ignorance, and I’ve never felt more disrespected in my whole life, let alone in Fed Cup, and I’ve played Fed Cup for 13 years now and it is the worst thing that has ever happened to me.”
....

Des writes for the Early Lead and the D.C. Sports Bog, scouring the Web to bring readers items of interest, both serious and amusing. He also covers fantasy football, as well as fitness topics for the MisFits. Follow @DesBieler

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[nycbos]

1. I think the tune is still the same. Austrian Hymn by Hayden.

They just use different lyrics.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

3. Also "Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken"

Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

"Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken", also called "Zion, or the City of God", is an 18th-century English hymn written by John Newton, who also wrote the hymn "Amazing Grace". The hymn has often been set to the music of Joseph Haydn's "Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser" (known as "Austria" in English-speaking circles) or Arthur Sullivan's "Lux Eoi". In recent decades a third tune, Abbots Leigh, has risen to prominence. This was written for this text by Reverend Cyril Vincent Taylor in 1942 while he was a producer of Religious Broadcasting at the BBC and stationed at the village of Abbots Leigh.

[malaise]

2. That was on our sports news

Shocking