Hundreds of American Athletes Arrive in Israel Ahead of 18th Maccabiah Games

Hundreds of American Athletes Arrive in Israel Ahead of 18th Maccabiah Games

Mayor Nir Barkat Welcomes Delegation to Jerusalem City Hall

JERUSALEM ....... As over 750 Maccabi USA competitors arrived overthe weekend to participate in the 18th Maccabiah Games which begin July 13,Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat welcomed a delegation of athletes and teamexecutives. The Mayor saluted the athletes' decision to come to Israel forthe competition, urging them to "take advantage of their time in Israel andhelp us build the atmosphere that makes this place so special." An additional 150 American participants are expected to arrive prior to thebeginning of the games.

Attending the welcoming briefing was Jason Lezak, the Olympic Gold-medal winning and world record holding swimmer who has chosen to participate inthe Maccabiah instead of competing in his sport's top annual event, theWorld Championships of Swimming.

While Lezak said that the decision to forego the World Championships certainly wasn't an easy one, he welcomed the opportunity to compete alongside other Jewish athletes and remarked that "there is truly no eventlike the Maccabiah Games." "I've always wanted the chance to participate inthe Maccabiah and I've now reached a point in my career where that'spossible," he said.

Fielding 88 different teams to compete in 28 different sports, the MaccabiUSA team will be the second largest, behind only the host country of Israel. Ron Carner, General Chairman of Maccabi USA who was also welcomed by theMayor and earlier in the day spent a private session with Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli cabinet, said that the Maccabiah offers an experience like no other.

"The Games present the chance for athletes to demonstrate their pride inJudaism and the Jewish State through the prism of sports, yet the Maccabiahis far more than just a sporting competition - it's a remarkable display ofJewish unity," he said. "

In addition to the intensive competition that defines the Games, theathletes will spend considerable amounts of time touring the country andgaining an appreciation of Israel's history and culture. The first two daysafter arrival were spent in Jerusalem, where participants from the US team visited various points of interest. Those sites, including the Old City and Yad Vashem, provided an experience that Lezak described for reporters as"very touching."

Carner said that the dual program, combining athleticism with events thatfocus on Judaism and Israel, are part of what make the Maccabiah stand outfrom any other major sporting event in which these participants might becompeting.

"Spending this time in Israel and appreciating what this countryis all about provides our athletes with something that cannot be felt anywhere else on earth," he said. "We know they'll return home not only having been blessed with an unforgettable time exhibiting their talent atthe highest levels of competition, but also prouder Jews and lovers of the Jewish State."