Aussies make history at glorious Games
AUSTRALIA has made history at the 19th Maccabiah Games, and will return from the Holy Land with a record-breaking 105 medals.
AUSTRALIA has made history at the 19th Maccabiah Games, and will return from the Holy Land with a record-breaking 105 medals.
Head of delegation Harry Procel said he was proud of the way the members of the delegation represented their country.
“It was great to win so many medals in different sports and across all age divisions,” Procel told The AJN.
“The standard of sport at the Games across most sports has improved significantly. The advent of new sports such as archery, open water swim, Maccabi Man and equestrian have been really positive innovations.
“While there have been many highs and lows over the last two weeks, I have been extremely proud of the Australian team.”
The team of over 400 is now the most successful to represent Australia of all time, and Procel said that it should be the benchmark for the next delegation in 2017.
“Off course the success of this team is something that Maccabi Australia will be seeking to improve on for the next Games,” said Procel.
“There have been many highlights here … and my final message to the team is that I hope that they had a great experience in Israel and that everyone wants to continue to be involved with Maccabi in the future.”
The Games have been one to savour for the lucky athletes, who reflect on their journey with joy.
“The whole Maccabiah has been unbelievable,” futsal gun Jarrod Basger said.
“It’s an experience that can’t be matched anywhere else and as my first, I’ve absolutely loved it.”
Star swimmer Jeff Sher added: “Maccabiah does a whole lot of things; it lifts the Jewish community, but it also has personal satisfaction come out of it.”
On the ground in Israel:
Journalists: David Weiner/Josh Givoni
Photographer: Peter Haskin
Click here to view the photos from week 2 of the 19th Maccabiah Games on the iPad app.
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