2022 Maccabiah Games
The 2022 Maccabiah Games (Template:Lang-he) took place in Israel from July 14-25, 2022, and are also referred to as the 21st Maccabiah Games (Template:Lang-he). The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. Israeli former Olympic judo medalist Arik Zeevi served as Maccabiah Chairman.[4] Approximately 10,000 athletes from 80 countries competed in 42 sports categories.[1]
History
The Maccabiah Games were named for ancient Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee from the village of Modi'in, who led the Maccabean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire from 167–160 BCE. They were first held in 1932.[5][6] In 1961, the Games were recognized as Regional Games by the International Olympic Committee. The Games are overseen by Maccabi World Union.[7][8]
Among other Olympic and world champions, swimmer Mark Spitz won 10 Maccabiah gold medals before earning his first of nine Olympic gold medals.[9] The Games are the second-largest sports gathering in the world, by number of participants.[10][11][12] At the 2017 Maccabiah Games, the nations that won the most medals were Israel, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Hungary.
Opening ceremonies
The opening ceremonies took place on July 14, 2022, at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, Israel, which was also designated as the "Capital of the Maccabiah" for the Games.[13] Israeli gymnasts and Olympic champions Linoy Ashram and Artem Dolgopyat lit the ceremonial torch at the opening ceremony.[2] Torches were carried by Tokyo Olympic taekwondo medalist Avishag Semberg; swimmer Anastasia Gorbenko; paralympic swimmers Mark Malyar and Arab-Israeli Iyad Shalabi, and Jewish-American-Israeli Olympic and major league baseball player Ian Kinsler.[10][14] Israeli pop singers Eden Ben Zaken and Static & Ben El Tavori performed.[2][14]
United States President Joe Biden attended the opening ceremonies, cheering on the US delegation of 1,400 athletes--larger than the US delegation to the 2020 Summer Olympics.[15][5] He said to them: "I’m so damn proud of you... Godspeed and go get ‘em, guys."[16][17] He became the first American president to attend the Maccabiah Games.[18]
Notable medalists
Israeli Olympian and European Championships bronze medalist Lihie Raz swept the artistic gymnastics open women’s events, winning six gold medals.[19] World champion bronze medalist Andrey Medvedev was part of the Team Israel squad that won the gold medal in the open men’s team.[20]
In swimming, Israeli Olympian, two-time world champion, and national record holder Anastasia Gorbenko won the women’s 200 m individual medley, Israeli Olympian, former European Junior Champion, and national record holder Yakov Toumarkin won the men’s 200 m backstroke, and Israeli Olympian and national record holder Meiron Cheruti won the men's 50 m freestyle.[21] Israeli Olympian and national record holder Gal Cohen Groumi won the men’s 100 m butterfly; he was at the time a rising sophomore at the University of Michigan and finished 10th in the 100 fly at the 2022 NCAA Division I Championships. Israeli Olympian Michael Laitarovsky won the men’s 100 m backstroke.[21] Israeli Bar Soloveychik won a gold medal while breaking the record that had stood for 33 years in the 400 m freestyle.[22]
Olympic swimmer and national record holder Denis Petrashov of Kyrgyzstan won the men’s 100 m breaststroke.[21]
Participating countries
The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. The following countries (and number of athletes from each) are participating in the 2022 Maccabiah Games:[23]
- Argentina (765; 3rd-largest delegation)[24]
- Australia (600+)[25]
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas (8)[24][26][27]
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada (700; 4th-largest delegation)[24]
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Czech Republic
- Dominican Republic
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Gibraltar
- Great Britain (527)[28]
- Greece
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- India
- Ireland
- Israel (1,884; largest delegation)[15]
- Italy
- Japan
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Latvia
- Lithuania (17)[29]
- Mexico
- Moldova
- Morocco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Panama
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Poland
- Puerto Rico
- Serbia
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Turkey
- Ukraine (45)[24]
- Uruguay
- USA (1,334; 2nd-largest delegation)[5][15]
- Venezuela
- Zambia (1)
- Zimbabwe (2)
- Maccabi World Union
- Olim
Venues
The Games are taking place at venues in a total of 18 Israeli cities.[24][30] The following are the venues of the Maccabiah events, and the events held at them, throughout the country:[31]
- Ashdod
- Ben Gurion Park – Cricket
- Caesarea
- Caesarea Golf Club – Golf
- Daliyat al-Karmel
- Darkha High School Sports Hall – Badminton
- Ganei Tikva
- Lider Sports Center – Fencing
- Gezer – Softball
- Hadera
- Enerbox Auditorium – Judo; Karate
- Haifa
- Ben Tzvi Hall – Futsal U16 and U18
- Ramat Alon Hall – Volleyball U16 and U18
- Romema Arena – Basketball U16 and U18
- Jerusalem
- Arnona Community Center – Youth Ice Hockey; Women's Ice Hockey
- Givat Ram Stadium – Men's Football; Women's Football; Athletics
- Israel Tennis Center – Tennis
- YMCA Jerusalem – Weightlifting; Wheelchair Basketball
- Pais Arena – Men's Basketball; Women's Basketball; Men's Futsal; Women's Futsal
- Pisgat Ze'ev – Men's Volleyball; Women's Volleyball
- Netanya
- Yeshurun Hall – Basketball 45+
- Wingate Institute – Futsal 35+; Futsal 45+; Men's Rugby; Women's Rugby; Swimming; Water Polo
- Shapira – Football 35+; Football 45+; Football 55+
- Sharon Auditorium – Basketball 35+
- Rigler Auditorium – Volleyball
- Petach Tikva
- Rozmarin Hall – Netball
- Nof HaGalil
- Green Stadium – Men's Football U18 and U16; Women's Football U16 and U18
- Ramat Gan
- Maccabiah Village – Padel
- Ramat HaSharon
- Tennis Center – Tennis 65+
- Ra'anana
- Aviv Hall – Netball 16+; Netball 18+; Netball 35+
- Moadon – Bowls
- Metro West – Table Tennis
- Squash Center – Squash
- Ra'anana Park – Baseball
- Sharona
- Horse Park – Dressage; Jumping
- Tel Aviv
- Hadar Yosef National Sport Center – Artistic Gymnastics; Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Velodrome Tel Aviv – Cycling
Medal count
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Sports
Athletes at the Games are competing in 29 different sports, encompassing a total of 42 disciplines.[15][2][32] Five new sports were added for the 2022 Maccabiah: 3×3 basketball, bouldering, surfing, motocross, and padel, and three new sports for women: ice hockey, football, and futsal.[33] Pickleball was accepted as an exhibition sport at the Games.[34]
- Aquatics
- Athletics
- Half marathon
- Track and field
- Badminton
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Bowling
- Bouldering (new)
- Chess
- Cricket
- Cycling
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Football
- Football
- Futsal
- Beach Football (new)
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Artistic
- Rhythmic
- Ice Hockey
- Judo
- Karate
- Netball
- Rugby
- Padel (new)
- Softball
- Squash
- Surfing (new)
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Volleyball
- Weightlifting (reintroduced)[1]
Closing ceremony
The closing ceremony took place on July 25, 2022, in Live Park in Rishon LeTzion.[1] Singer Noa Kirel performed.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f "21st Maccabiah Games come to an end with athletes coming closer". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ a b c d Shiryn Ghermezian (June 21, 2022). "Israel's Maccabiah Games Unveil Details for Star-Studded Opening Ceremony". The Algemeiner.
- ^ "Herzog says Maccabiah is 'a special moment of togetherness' for Jews around the world". Times of Israel.
- ^ Staff, S. V. G. (July 6, 2022). "Pixellot Partners With Maccabi World Union to Stream Maccabiah Games for the First Time". Sports Video Group.
- ^ a b c Yazbek, Hiba (July 14, 2022). "What are the Maccabiah Games?". The New York Times.
- ^ Mark Mietkiewicz (June 19, 2017). "The 20th Maccabiah Games: A brief History (Part 1)," The Canadian Jewish News.
- ^ "21st Maccabiah Games kick off amid much fanfare". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ "International Committee". Maccabiah 21.
- ^ "At Maccabiah Games, 300 Jewish American athletes become bar and bat mitzvah". The Forward. July 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "Israel to host 21st Maccabiah Games," Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, June 21, 2022.
- ^ "History of the Maccabiah Games". Maccabi Australia.
- ^ Bard, M.G.; Schwartz, M. (2005). 1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel. Jason Aronson, Inc. p. 85. ISBN 978-1-4616-2715-9.
- ^ "Jerusalem". Maccabiah 21.
- ^ a b "Lights-out opening of 21st Maccabiah". The Jerusalem Post. July 14, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Israel prepares for Maccabiah, 2022's largest world sporting event; About 10,000 athletes from dozens of countries competing in the 21st Maccabiah Games will participate in 42 sporting events watched by tens of thousands of spectators. Here's how". The Jerusalem Post. July 9, 2022.
- ^ "The Latest: US oil industry urges Biden visit sites at home". WNYT NewsChannel 13. July 14, 2022.
- ^ [2022 Maccabiah Games Opening Ceremonies]
- ^ Cnaan Liphshiz (July 15, 2022). "Biden is first US president to attend Maccabiah 'Jewish Olympics'". J.
- ^ "Israelis Raz and Indig win open all-around gold, Israel and U.S. top team standings at Maccabiah Games". International Gymnast Magazine Online. July 22, 2022.
- ^ "Israelis Raz and Indig win open all-around gold, Israel and U.S. top team standings at Maccabiah Games | International Gymnast Magazine Online". July 22, 2022.
- ^ a b c Pelshaw, Anya (July 26, 2022). "Multiple Israeli National Record Holders Highlight 21st Maccabiah Games". SwimSwam.
- ^ Alan Rosenbaum (August 15, 2022). "The 21st Maccabiah – wrap-up and review". The Jerusalem Post.
- ^ "Delegations - Maccabiah 21". maccabiah.com.
- ^ a b c d e "Israel opens largest ever Maccabiah Games this week, 'Jewish Olympics' that attract thousands". All Israel News.
- ^ Desiatnik, Shane. "Athletes enjoy dazzling Opening Ceremony". Australian Jewish News.
- ^ "Jay Gotlieb represents The Bahamas in the Maccabiah Games". The Bahamas Weekly.
- ^ "Jerusalem hosts its first Maccabiah with flags, fanfare, first-timers". The Times of Israel.
- ^ Harpin, Lee. "Team GB returns from Maccabiah Games with a record haul of 57 medals". www.jewishnews.co.uk.
- ^ "Lietuvos sporto Klubas "Makabi" intensyviai ruošiasi dalyvavimui 21–oje Pasaulinėje Makabiadoje". Lietuvos žydų bendruomene.
- ^ "Host Cities". maccabiah.com.
- ^ "אירועי המכביה ברחבי הארץ" [Maccabiah events throughout the country]. 21st Maccabiah (in Hebrew). 2022-06-21. Retrieved 2022-07-24.
- ^ "Maccabiah - Maccabiah 21". maccabiah.com.
- ^ "16 things you didn't know about the Maccabiah Games". The Jewish Voice.
- ^ "WPF Press Releases: 2022 World Maccabi Games". World Pickleball Federation. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2022.