By Daniel Ben-Tal
Several special, mass-participation events are intended to bring together Israelis and international athletes
Sports, they say, are more about participating than winning. This has never been more true than at the Maccabiah Games and now you too can be part of the largest sporting event in Israel's history: The 18th edition of the 'Jewish Olympics' includes several mass-participation events, dubbed The Popular Maccabiah, and is designed to bring Israelis closer to the international athletes.
There will be two free public events: A national beach happening on five Mediterranean beaches tomorrow, and a colorful mass bicycle ride through Tel Aviv on Friday, July 17.
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That day, there will be an open competition at the Maccabiah triathlon around the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). On July 21, there will be a half-marathon (21 kilometers) in Netanya, open to the public via pre-registration. The event will have 10-kilometer and 2.5-kilometer heats as well.
"This is the first time we've held such mass-participation events, which will bring the general public closer to the Games," says Maccabiah spokesman Yaron Michaeli.
"We felt the need to make the Israeli public more involved in the Maccabiah, to connect them with overseas participants. Until now, Israelis didn't participate beyond watching the events - this way they become active participants. In particular, the half-marathon, triathlon and bicycle events will draw the country's leading athletes in those spheres."
This unmediated meeting between Maccabiah athletes from abroad and Israelis promises to bring them closer.
"The athletes will come to meet the crowd and tell their stories," says the Games' project coordinator, Tal Sofer. "In the past we've felt the general public doesn't 'feel' the Maccabiah, and the event passes them by. The Popular Maccabiah is designed to bring Israelis closer to the Games."
The cycling event in Tel Aviv will be the largest of its kind in Israel, with 7,000 cyclists expected. Participants leave the Ramat Gan National Stadium parking lot (at the west wing of the stadium) at 7 A.M., head through the Yarkon park until the coast, then go south until the Dolphinarium, and return to the stadium by 10 A.M.
Participants can choose from three courses: 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers and 25 kilometers.
Registration is via the Maccabiah Web site, www.maccabiah.com. Participation is NIS 50 for the general public, NIS 35 for students with a valid student ID, and NIS 25 for pensioners (60+) and the physically challenged. Organized groups (more than 20 participants) pay NIS 35 per person.
Participants can also rent a bicycle and helmet at the starting line for NIS 80, or buy a new bicycle for NIS 600, money the Maccabiah will donate to help children of Sderot and the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip.
The wheels turn
Israel has gone through a bicycling boom in recent years, and Tel Aviv now boasts 100 kilometers of designated bike lanes.
"The feedback so far has been amazing. Along with many families - some of three generations - and Youth Maccabiah competitors, we expect several dozen teams representing work places, sports clubs, the Israel Police, the Israel Defense Forces, the physically challenged and pensioners," says Sofer, noting that the Pensioner Affairs Ministry is helping to prepare senior citizens for the event. "The police team will probably be the largest," he says.
Commander Uzy Sommer, head of the Israel Police's Safety and Health branch, is organizing the police delegation.
"We've informed the entire force - more than 20,000 police officers - via the police's internal communication system," says Sommer. "In particular, we're contacting every police officer who rides a bicycle. The feedback has been very encouraging: Every district command is sending me a list of officers who want to participate. I expect you'll see at least 300 policemen and women riding together. It will be a homogenous team wearing the same uniform. They should be quite distinctive."
Tel Aviv District commander Ilan Franco gave Sommer this responsibility.
"The police views the Maccabiah as a national event, and willingly adopted the project. We're participating because we salute and welcome the overseas athletes," says Sommer.
The police delegation will ride under the banner "Safety is always your responsibility."
"Every one of our bicycles will be thoroughly inspected before the event - that means checking the air pressure, tires, wheels, spokes, gears, brakes and chains, as well as [the bikers] wearing an approved helmet and applying sunscreen. And of course, every participant must carry enough water," Sommer says.
By Daniel Ben-Tal
Several special, mass-participation events are intended to bring together Israelis and international athletes
Sports, they say, are more about participating than winning. This has never been more true than at the Maccabiah Games and now you too can be part of the largest sporting event in Israel's history: The 18th edition of the 'Jewish Olympics' includes several mass-participation events, dubbed The Popular Maccabiah, and is designed to bring Israelis closer to the international athletes.
There will be two free public events: A national beach happening on five Mediterranean beaches tomorrow, and a colorful mass bicycle ride through Tel Aviv on Friday, July 17.
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That day, there will be an open competition at the Maccabiah triathlon around the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). On July 21, there will be a half-marathon (21 kilometers) in Netanya, open to the public via pre-registration. The event will have 10-kilometer and 2.5-kilometer heats as well.
"This is the first time we've held such mass-participation events, which will bring the general public closer to the Games," says Maccabiah spokesman Yaron Michaeli.
"We felt the need to make the Israeli public more involved in the Maccabiah, to connect them with overseas participants. Until now, Israelis didn't participate beyond watching the events - this way they become active participants. In particular, the half-marathon, triathlon and bicycle events will draw the country's leading athletes in those spheres."
This unmediated meeting between Maccabiah athletes from abroad and Israelis promises to bring them closer.
"The athletes will come to meet the crowd and tell their stories," says the Games' project coordinator, Tal Sofer. "In the past we've felt the general public doesn't 'feel' the Maccabiah, and the event passes them by. The Popular Maccabiah is designed to bring Israelis closer to the Games."
The cycling event in Tel Aviv will be the largest of its kind in Israel, with 7,000 cyclists expected. Participants leave the Ramat Gan National Stadium parking lot (at the west wing of the stadium) at 7 A.M., head through the Yarkon park until the coast, then go south until the Dolphinarium, and return to the stadium by 10 A.M.
Participants can choose from three courses: 5 kilometers, 10 kilometers and 25 kilometers.
Registration is via the Maccabiah Web site, www.maccabiah.com. Participation is NIS 50 for the general public, NIS 35 for students with a valid student ID, and NIS 25 for pensioners (60+) and the physically challenged. Organized groups (more than 20 participants) pay NIS 35 per person.
Participants can also rent a bicycle and helmet at the starting line for NIS 80, or buy a new bicycle for NIS 600, money the Maccabiah will donate to help children of Sderot and the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip.
The wheels turn
Israel has gone through a bicycling boom in recent years, and Tel Aviv now boasts 100 kilometers of designated bike lanes.
"The feedback so far has been amazing. Along with many families - some of three generations - and Youth Maccabiah competitors, we expect several dozen teams representing work places, sports clubs, the Israel Police, the Israel Defense Forces, the physically challenged and pensioners," says Sofer, noting that the Pensioner Affairs Ministry is helping to prepare senior citizens for the event. "The police team will probably be the largest," he says.
Commander Uzy Sommer, head of the Israel Police's Safety and Health branch, is organizing the police delegation.
"We've informed the entire force - more than 20,000 police officers - via the police's internal communication system," says Sommer. "In particular, we're contacting every police officer who rides a bicycle. The feedback has been very encouraging: Every district command is sending me a list of officers who want to participate. I expect you'll see at least 300 policemen and women riding together. It will be a homogenous team wearing the same uniform. They should be quite distinctive."
Tel Aviv District commander Ilan Franco gave Sommer this responsibility.
"The police views the Maccabiah as a national event, and willingly adopted the project. We're participating because we salute and welcome the overseas athletes," says Sommer.
The police delegation will ride under the banner "Safety is always your responsibility."
"Every one of our bicycles will be thoroughly inspected before the event - that means checking the air pressure, tires, wheels, spokes, gears, brakes and chains, as well as [the bikers] wearing an approved helmet and applying sunscreen. And of course, every participant must carry enough water," Sommer says.
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