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PM Sharon address to Jewish Olympics Athletes: "Welcome to Israel, welcome home"
"The 17th Maccabiah opened Monday night in a splash of colors as thousands of athletes from 52 countries crammed Ramat Gan National Stadium, kicking off a great pageant for the Jewish people in an opening ceremony headlining some of Israel's biggest stars. It was a functional Babel as announcers addressed some 40,000 attendants and 7,000 athletes from five continents in Hebrew, English, and Spanish introducing them to the latest installment of the Jewish Olympics.
Sports fans will be treated to some hard-edged competition in conventional sports like basketball and baseball, and the less conventional: bridge, lawn bowling, and that most Jewish of sports - chess.
"Welcome to Israel," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed the crowd and athletes, "welcome home." He wasted no time in exhorting the 5,000 foreign athletes "that by the next Maccabiah you will all make aliya to the Jewish homeland and be a part of the Jewish delegation."
"The Maccabiah symbolizes our being one people, one large family," said President Moshe Katzav as he officially opened the ceremony. "You represent the Jewish people throughout all the generations here tonight," he told the congregants.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, President Moshe Katzav and other dignitaries present sat behind a screen of thick bullet-proof glass and a phalanx of guards throughout the tightly secured event. Earlier, Israel Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi toured the stadium along with Tel Aviv District Commander David Tzur. The latter said the event was running smoothly despite heavy traffic and even heavier security that briefly delayed the entrance of thousands of viewers.
The events began on a bittersweet note the entry of surviving family members of the four Australian athletes drowned when a bridge collapsed beneath them at the 15th Maccabiah disaster. Singer Sarit Haddad banged out some of her hits, and David Daor gave his falsetto version of "Hatikva", the national anthem. But the entrance of the 7,000 athletes served as event's centerpiece, featuring some of Israel's greatest active athletes. Israeli pole vaulter Alex Auerbuch carried in his country's flag. Israel's only gold medalist, windsurfer Gal Friedman, lit the Maccabiah torch, and Judoist Arik Ze'evi read the "Athlete's Oath."
What the event may have lacked in spontaneity, the athletes made up for in enthusiasm. Israeli dancers in yellow and red leotards broke ranks and posed for pictures with Australian and Italian athletes. Then neat columns of nations set up by the event organizers melded into one another as the athletes mingled, trading pins, hats, and even jerseys.
The event's announcers introduced each of the delegations against the trance music pounding in the background. The Italians were meticulously arrayed in swank white pants and powder-blue jerseys. The Indian delegation arrived in blazers and ties.
The American delegation, which boasted 700 athletes led by nine-time Olympic gold medallist Mark Spitz, took twenty minutes to lap the Ramat Gan Stadium course.
Italy's delegation marched in bearing a huge banner reading "Italy loves Israel." Outside, some Israelis tried to reciprocate. Before reaching a maze of security checks, visitors to the event passed through a gauntlet of Israeli hawkers. "Welcome Israel," shouted the heavyset man in gold chains, "Lady, gentleman: Begaleh [doughy bagels] 10 shekels!"
And in the latest sign that corporate sponsorship had its finger even this sporting event, announcers asked the crowd to welcome the "Energy Children's TV Channel Delegation."
Source: Gutman M and JPost Staff. Maccabiah Sports: Sharon: "Welcome to Israel, welcome home". JPost.com (11 July 2005) [FullText]
Sports fans will be treated to some hard-edged competition in conventional sports like basketball and baseball, and the less conventional: bridge, lawn bowling, and that most Jewish of sports - chess.
"Welcome to Israel," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon addressed the crowd and athletes, "welcome home." He wasted no time in exhorting the 5,000 foreign athletes "that by the next Maccabiah you will all make aliya to the Jewish homeland and be a part of the Jewish delegation."
"The Maccabiah symbolizes our being one people, one large family," said President Moshe Katzav as he officially opened the ceremony. "You represent the Jewish people throughout all the generations here tonight," he told the congregants.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, President Moshe Katzav and other dignitaries present sat behind a screen of thick bullet-proof glass and a phalanx of guards throughout the tightly secured event. Earlier, Israel Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi toured the stadium along with Tel Aviv District Commander David Tzur. The latter said the event was running smoothly despite heavy traffic and even heavier security that briefly delayed the entrance of thousands of viewers.
The events began on a bittersweet note the entry of surviving family members of the four Australian athletes drowned when a bridge collapsed beneath them at the 15th Maccabiah disaster. Singer Sarit Haddad banged out some of her hits, and David Daor gave his falsetto version of "Hatikva", the national anthem. But the entrance of the 7,000 athletes served as event's centerpiece, featuring some of Israel's greatest active athletes. Israeli pole vaulter Alex Auerbuch carried in his country's flag. Israel's only gold medalist, windsurfer Gal Friedman, lit the Maccabiah torch, and Judoist Arik Ze'evi read the "Athlete's Oath."
What the event may have lacked in spontaneity, the athletes made up for in enthusiasm. Israeli dancers in yellow and red leotards broke ranks and posed for pictures with Australian and Italian athletes. Then neat columns of nations set up by the event organizers melded into one another as the athletes mingled, trading pins, hats, and even jerseys.
The event's announcers introduced each of the delegations against the trance music pounding in the background. The Italians were meticulously arrayed in swank white pants and powder-blue jerseys. The Indian delegation arrived in blazers and ties.
The American delegation, which boasted 700 athletes led by nine-time Olympic gold medallist Mark Spitz, took twenty minutes to lap the Ramat Gan Stadium course.
Italy's delegation marched in bearing a huge banner reading "Italy loves Israel." Outside, some Israelis tried to reciprocate. Before reaching a maze of security checks, visitors to the event passed through a gauntlet of Israeli hawkers. "Welcome Israel," shouted the heavyset man in gold chains, "Lady, gentleman: Begaleh [doughy bagels] 10 shekels!"
And in the latest sign that corporate sponsorship had its finger even this sporting event, announcers asked the crowd to welcome the "Energy Children's TV Channel Delegation."
Source: Gutman M and JPost Staff. Maccabiah Sports: Sharon: "Welcome to Israel, welcome home". JPost.com (11 July 2005) [FullText]
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