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9,000 Athletes from over 80 countries around the world have gathered here in Israel to celebrate the 19th Maccabiah. The torch will be lit in a few short moments and we’ll run all the way to Jerusalem where it will hit Teddy stadium tonight.
Ron Jacobsohn, JN1 Correspondent:
9,000 Athletes from over 80 countries around the world have gathered here in Israel to celebrate the 19th Maccabiah. The torch will be lit in a few short moments and we’ll run all the way to Jerusalem where it will hit Teddy stadium tonight.
The chairman of the Maccabiah, Amir Peled, admitted everything is already set and ready even though his personal jitters will continue all the way until the end of the games.
Amir Peled – Chairman of the Maccabiah:
II think that everything is set to go, I just sat with the 78 representatives of all delegations, to know how the first very crazy day passed. It was quite successful or very successful.
I am in the function of being in control because if I will lose it, the rest will lose it as well, so I’m in control, I feel ok with it, seriously, a lot of emotions, excitement but totally in control.
The Minister of Immigrant Absorption, Sofa Landver, who was clearly very excited about the Maccabiah kickoff, told us about her ministries special plan for sportsmen who will decide to immigrate to Israel as a result of the games.
Sofa Landver – The Minister of Immigrant Absorption:
The ministry of immigration, of course, wants them to stay here. From the last Maccabiah 250 have stayed, or let’s say arrived, 250 athletes have arrived. I believe that this time it will double itself. We have set up a benefits package, united packages that will help us successfully receive them and to give them the possibility of support, safe landing in the country, it’s up to them to make the decision, and you know what? Today we make decisions that will help to give them the possibility of getting to know the country, to touch , to fall in love with it, to get to know the history, the history of the Jewish people, our glorious country and to fall in love with it, and to come here, and AI believe that as Minister of Immigrant absorption I can receive them next year in Jerusalem.
During the ceremony archive footage from past Maccabiah’s was unveiled for the first time including famous lighters of the torches in the history of the games.
Amir Peled, Chairman of the Maccabiah:
What you see here, I believe it’s amazing, to take 80 years back and all the story of the motorcycles becomes very very developed, Harley Davidson, to take them from here to Tel-Aviv, to Ramat-Gan, to Jerusalem Via Modi’in. I think after we see all the flags it’s a beautiful event and in the evening we’ll be the very very highlight in Teddy stadium. OUT 2:36
80 out of the 600 members of the Israeli Harley Davidson club were chosen to imitate the motorcyclists who went all through Europe in 1932 to invite Jews to come to Israel for the first Maccabiah.
Chen Cheres – Member of the Israeli Harley Davidson Club:
We’re going to go to Tel-Aviv to start with a circle were it all started in 1932 I believe, and from there we’re going to go to Jerusalem, to the parliament to have a picture over there and to Malcha, to Teddy.
Ori Arbel – Member of the Israeli Harley Davidson Club:
I think it’s great honor for us, it’s welcoming ceremony for all the sports and all tourists who come to Israel, so we feel very proud and very honored to take the torch to Jerusalem and to open the Maccabiah games.
Ron Jacobsohn, JN1 Correspondent:
So the 80 bikers, each representing a country that will participate in the 19th Maccabiah are blasting the way towards Jerusalem and will arrive in time for the opening ceremony.
For JN1, I’m Ron Jacobsohn at Kfar Maccabiah.
