Israeli President Shimon Peres paid a visit to the site of this summer’s Maccabiah Games Thursday, ahead of next Thursday’s official opening ceremony. The Israeli statesman observed the last final stages of preparations for the 19th sporting games which will feature over 9,000 Jewish athletes representing 71 countries, as well as tourist spectators from around the world at its nerve centre of the Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem.
Speaking of Peres’ official visit, Maccabiah Chairman Amir Peled said it was “a great honour” to receive the world-renowned statesman in his capacity as “President of the Jewish people”. The Israeli President met the American delegation of athletes who are already installed in Israel, ahead of the arrival of the vast majority of other national teams expected this weekend.
Peres also accepted an invitation to attend Thursday’s opening ceremony in the company of Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as numerous foreign and local dignitaries. The largest Maccabiah Games to date will open in the presence of 32,000 people, featuring a parade of participating athletes, the traditional lighting of the Maccabiah torch, and live performances by domestic artists including Israeli composer Rami Kleinstein and award-winning violinist Miri Ben-Ari, as well as foreign artists such as X-factor USA finalist Carly Rose Sonenclar and Canadian-born singer Kathleen Reiter. The ceremony will be broadcast live on Israeli television.
The “Jewish Olympics” received a huge boost this year with the confirmation that Jewish American Olympic gold medallist Aly Raisman would compete as part of the US delegation. The openly-Jewish gymnast won a gold medal at last year’s London Olympic Games, performing a floor routine to the tune of Hava Negilah.
The games will feature 42 sporting events, including new additions to the programme such as ice hockey, handball, shooting, open water swimming, bridge and badminton. Fellow new event archery will also feature a pair of siblings competing from first time participating nation Cuba. Fellow South American delegation Argentina has also confirmed it is sending a record delegation of 419 athletes to participate in the games, including 250 first-time participants and 190 first-time visitors to the Jewish State. Celebrated domestic football stars Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguro sent the team a pre-recorded good luck message ahead of their departure to the Jewish State
The games will also hope to replicate the success of London 2012’s Paralympic Games, with paralympian athletes competing in tennis, table tennis, cycling, swimming and wheelchair basketball.
Nir Barkat, Mayor of Jerusalem described the decision to bring the Maccabiah to the Jewish capital as the “key to its success” in uniting Jewish people with their spiritual homeland.