U.S. Games delegation arrives in Israel
800 American athletes, coaches, friends and family members arrive in Tel Aviv on Sunday to participate in Maccabiah
TEL AVIV - The U.S. delegation to the 17th Maccabiah, set to begin July 11, arrived Sunday evening bringing the largest team in the Maccabiah's history: 630 athletes, including medalists from the Sydney and Athens Olympics, 200 coaches, friends and familly members.
Upon their arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport, the delegation was greeted in an impressive ceremony by the Department of Immigration Encouragement, a part of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption.
'Maccbiah visitors choose to stay'
Minister of Immigrant Absorption Tzipi Livni said in a statement that the Maccabiah has a significant meaning for the Israeli government and for the ministry.
"Some of the previous Maccabiah visitors chose to immigrate to Israel because of their experiences during their visit," she said. "This way they actualize the Zionist dream."
In addition to the ceremony, the ministry will provide the visitors with trips and tours around Israel, an immigration encouragement seminar and a welcoming evening in the Maccabiah village that will take
place July 10.
These events are organized under the title "Next time, enjoy a home court advantage."
"If just a few of them immigrate to Israel, the event would be perfect," said Maccabiah organizing committee chair Uzi Zwebner.
Among the new arrivals are basketball players Leslie and Jordan Schlachter, who are celebrating their honeymoon.
Three grandchildren of 1950s American basketball player Dolph Schayes arrived as well; two are volleyball players and one will compete in Track and Field.
'Atmosphere is safer this time'
"Unlike the last Maccabiah, the security atmosphere is positive this time," said Jed Margulies, who is in charge of sports in the delegation. "People really want to come to Israel."
Also arriving was Scott Goldblatt, who won Olympic gold in Sydney in 2000 and silver in Athens in 2004 in swimming relays.
The family of Warren Zines, a member of the 1997 Australian delegation who was killed in the bridge disaster at the 15th Maccabiah, arrived as well. He was the first of three of the victims' families that are set to participate in a memorial that will take place July 8. Four died in the accident.
Delegations of Jewish athletes and accompaniers from other countries will be greeted in similar ceremonies. Approximately 10,000 people are set to arrive in Israel for the event.
The Ramat Gan Stadium, where the Maccabiah opening ceremony will take place next Monday, has been closed for all unauthorized persons, because country leaders will be present.
About 1,500 policemen, border guard soldiers and civil guard volunteers, as well as hundreds of ushers, will be involved in securing the site during the ceremony.
Moshe Scheinman, Avinoam Porat and Moshe Sidi contributed to this article
