The 19th “Chai” Maccabiah was held in Israel from July 17th to 30th.
7.500 athletes took part in the games. That put her after the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup the third largest international sporting event in the world. The Maccabiah held competitions in 42 disciplines in 34 sports.
The Opening Ceremony:
The opening ceremony of the Games was held in Jerusalem for the first time since 2001. Over 32.000 spectators at Teddy Stadium as well as numerous dignitaries from home and abroad attended present during the ceremony.
Over 7.500 athletes from 77 different nations took part in the ceremony and entered the stadium with huge balloons with their respective national flags.
Team MAKKABI Germany:
More than 200 athletes, trainers and supervisors formed the largest delegation from MAKKABI Germany in Maccabiah history. The number of participants has grown again by 20 people compared to the previous games. This is because, in contrast to the previous games, MAKKABI Germany was represented in more competitions and was therefore able to give more athletes the chance to fight for medals with us.
Sports:
MAKKABI Germany competed in the following sports:
- basketball men
- Basketball Juniors U18
- Basketball Juniors U16
- Fechten
- football ladies
- football gentlemen
- Soccer U18
- Soccer U16
- Futsal
- Golf
- hockey ladies
- half marathon
- Judo
- Riding
- Chess
- Swimming
- sport shooting
- Tennis
- Table tennis
Conclusion & balance sheet:
Like every 4 years, the games were something very special for our athletes, whether young or old. These games will be remembered by each and every participant for a long time. The athletes could always see the fun and joy during and before the games.
But there was also a lot to experience away from the sports facilities, such as a visit to Beit Theresien in the Kibbutz Givat Chaim, a memorial commemorating the Theresienstadt concentration camp and meeting Zwi Cohen, a survivor and his moving story, at the “Memorial of the 11” in Tel Aviv for the 11 murdered Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics and of course the impressive opening and closing ceremonies of the 2013 Maccabiah.
We would like to thank all athletes for their successful participation.