10,000 Athletes to Participate in Maccabiah Games in Israel

This week, the Maccabiah Games opened in Israel, bringing 10,000 athletes to the country to mark the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. This from YNetNews:

"The Maccabiah strengthens the connection, solidarity, brotherhood, and understanding between the Jewish communities of the world and illustrates the fact that sport is a social tool and a bridge between people," Yossi Sharabi, the director general of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, told a press conference at the Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem on Tuesday.

Seven Israeli and Jewish athletes have been chosen to participate in the Maccabiah torch lighting ceremony, including Israeli Olympic Judo bronze medalists Ori Sasson and Yarden Gerbi, Paralympics medalist rower Moran Samuel, gymnast Neta Rivkin, NBA star Omri Casspi, American Olympic gold medalist swimmer Anthony Ervin and French Olympic gold medalist swimmer Fabien Gilot.

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