The 20th “Chai” Maccabiah took place from the 4th to the 17th. July in Israel.
This year over 10.000 Jewish athletes took part in the Maccabiah. Thus, the record set in 2013 was equalized and this Maccabiah was declared the biggest game to date. For the first time, more than 85 countries took part in the games, which was also a record.
The Opening Ceremony:
This year the games were again held in Jerusalem, as in 2013 the opening ceremony was celebrated in the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. The 10.000 participants moved into the stadium in front of more than 30.000 spectators. Among the spectators were also some high-ranking delegates from the Israeli government as well as famous athletes, who made for an unforgettable celebration.
Team MAKKABI Germany:
Also this year Makkabi Germany matched the participant record of his association to the previous games. Over 230 participants made their way to Israel to represent MAKKABI Germany. This is the largest German delegation that has ever attended a Maccabiah.
At the same time, other important events away from the sports fields were also on the association's schedule. First, a commemoration event on July 3rd. for the victims of the terrorist attack at the Munich Olympic Games in 1972, and a reception at the German Ambassador in Israel on July 12.
Sports:
MAKKABI Germany competed in the following sports:
- Football
- soccer women
- Soccer U18
- Soccer U16
- Eishockey
- Tennis
- Tennis juniors
- field hockey
- Chess
- water polo
- Swimming
- Rudern
- Fechten
- Table tennis
- Table tennis juniors
- Badminton
- Squash
- Golf
Conclusion & balance sheet:
Like every Maccabiah, this event was a successful and unforgettable experience for our athletes. The great atmosphere was crowned by a rain of medals for MAKKABI Germany, the association was able to claim a total of 46 medals. The young and old athletes showed their best performances and represented the association at a world-class level. As always, the opening and closing ceremonies, which rounded off the games perfectly, made for unforgettable memories. There are also commemorative events and other activities related to the games.
The Executive Committee of MAKKABI Germany congratulates and thanks all athletes for their great commitment.