The Wire

The 17th Maccabiah Games concluded in Israel yesterday, with Australians winning 5 gold, 10 silver and 36 bronze medals – but we haven’t heard much about it in the Australian press. There was significant coverage in 1997 when some Australian athletes died in a tragic bridge collapse, but things have been quiet since. These ‘Jewish Olympics’ are bigger than the Commonwealth Games and 530 Australians competed. Head of the Australian Delegation, Harry Procel, describes the high vibes of athletes at last night’s closing ceremony, while New South Wales Maccabi Executive Director Michael Vasin says the competition, with a disctinct Jewish flavour, is about more than just sport.

Maccabi Australia
17th Maccabiah Games