CANADA —Anybody who’s ever been to the opening ceremonies of the Maccabiah Games has raved about the experience – the pageantry, the celebration, the sense of Jewish solidarity.
Maccabi athletes posed for pre-departure photos last week at Pearson
International Airport in Toronto. Members and coaches of the junior
boys baseball team, and the junior boys basketball team, left,
were accompanied by Rabbi Yossi Saperman, at left, spiritual counsellor
to the Canadian Maccabi team. [Carolyn Blackman photos]
CANADA —Anybody who’s ever been to the opening ceremonies of the Maccabiah Games has raved about the experience – the pageantry, the celebration, the sense of Jewish solidarity.
Maccabi athletes posed for pre-departure photos last week at Pearson
International Airport in Toronto. Members and coaches of the junior
boys baseball team, left, and the junior boys basketball team,
were accompanied by Rabbi Yossi Saperman, at left, spiritual counsellor
to the Canadian Maccabi team. [Carolyn Blackman photos]
Anybody who’s ever been to the opening ceremonies of the Maccabiah
Games has raved about the experience – the pageantry, the celebration,
the sense of Jewish solidarity.
Word gets around, and to satisfy the requests of athletes’ family and
friends who travelled to Israel for the Games, Maccabi Canada president
Allen Gerskup came up with some 225 tickets. Many more made their
own arrangements, and Gerskup, speaking before the team flew to Israel
on a chartered El Al aircraft, said this reflects the favourable image of
the Games and Israel.
The Games’ brand in the Jewish community is much more positive and
widespread than it was back in 1985, when Gerskup had his first exposure
to the “Jewish Olympics” as manager of the men’s softball team.
Only 240 Canadians were on that Maccabiah team, while the
current edition of Team Canada topped out at about 410 athletes
and another 80 or more coaching, medical, training and administrative
staff. That’s about 100 more than at the last Games four
years ago.
The Maccabiah reputation is so positive in Canada that more
that 2,000 athletes registered for a chance to make the team,
Gerskup said.
Only the host Israelis, with more than 2,000 athletes, and the
Americans, with 900, will have larger delegations than Canada, he
continued. Altogether, 7,500 athletes from more than 60 countries,
plus Israel, are expected for the celebration of sport and Jewish
identity.
“I think word is out that this is a great trip,” Gerskup said from
his north Toronto office. “I want the athletes to have the most
amazing experience, something they will remember for a long
time.”
Many from his 1985 silver medal-winning softball team will
be coming back this summer for the masters softball tournament,
hoping to relive their glory days.
One area that Gerskup has been keen to cultivate is the increased
participation of women athletes. That meshed nicely with
a policy decision in Israel, which “also wants female athletes,”
he said.
Team Canada features a number of women’s teams: soccer,
softball, volleyball (a first), cycling, fencing, tennis, triathlon and
junior soccer. There will also be women’s participation in karate,
gymnastics, squash, swimming and golf.
While Israel has been pushing for more women’s participation,
finding quality athletes in some regions has proven problematic.
Cultural attitudes in South America and Europe limit the scope of
the women’s teams. The greatest response has been from Canada,
the United States, Britain, Australia, South Africa and Israel.
The Canadian contingent is heavy on team sports. In addition
to the female squads mentioned above, Maccabi Canada is
sending men’s open softball and a junior baseball team, as well as
masters’ softball, open volleyball, open water polo and basketball
teams. Altogether, there will be six Canadian soccer teams and
six basketball teams divided between the various open, women’s,
junior (boys and girls) and masters categories.
In addition, Maccabi Canada is fielding a track team and
sending athletes in swimming, fencing, karate, judo, rugby, golf
and 10-pin bowling, among others.
While the Maccabiah Games are often referred to as the Jewish
Olympics, only a smattering of actual Olympians have competed
in them. Some of the more notable past participants include
swimmer Mark Spitz, gymnast Mitch Gaylord, golfer Corey
Pavin, basketball players Ernie Grunfeld and Danny Schayes,
tennis player Dick Savitt and swimmer Lenny Krayzelburg.
The most notable world-class athlete at the 18th Chai Games
will likely be American Olympian Jason Lezak, who has chosen
to be in Israel rather than at the World Swimming Championships
in Rome.
The three-time Olympic gold medalist told Associated Press
his Jewish heritage inspired him to compete in the Games.
While in Israel, Canadian athletes will get a broader cultural
exposure to their Jewish heritage. All junior athletes will be taken
to the Western Wall, Yad Vashem and other must-see locations
such as the Dead Sea, and other cultural events have been arranged.
Gerskup has also recruited Rabbi Yossi Sapirman of Toronto’s
Beth Torah Congregation to serve as spiritual counsellor for the
Canadian delegation. “I wanted to put some Jewishness into this,
and he’s a pretty cool guy. He relates to young people and old
people. He’s a good speaker and he’s been to Israel many times.,”
Gerskup said.
The Canadian athletes gathered in Toronto last week for pre-
Games training and a farewell party. The group departed for Israel
on July 9. The Games run from July 12 to 23 at venues in Tel
Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Caesarea and Netanya.