Jewish world opens 17th Maccabiah by Matthew Gutman July 12, 2005 http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename= JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1121048977677 The 17th Maccabiah opened Monday night in a blaze of color, music and athletic pride. Thousands of athletes from 52 countries crammed into Ramat Gan's National Stadium, kicking off the games in an opening ceremony featuring appearances by some of Israel's greatest sportspeople. Noise filled the stadium as announcers addressed some 40,000 spectators and 7,000 athletes from five continents in Hebrew, English, and Spanish introducing them to the latest installment of "the Jewish Olympics." The event concluded with a spectacular fireworks display. Sports fans will be treated to some hard-edged competition in sports like basketball and baseball, as well as in bridge, lawn bowls, and chess. "Welcome to Israel," Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, addressed the crowd and athletes, "welcome home." He wasted no time in exhorting the 5,000 foreign athletes to make the move permanent, informing them that, "by the next Maccabiah you will all make aliya to the Jewish homeland and be a part of the Jewish delegation." "The Maccabiah symbolizes our being one people, one large family," President Moshe Katsav said proudly as he officially opened the ceremony. "You represent the Jewish people throughout all the generations here tonight," he told the audience. Sharon, Katsav and other dignitaries sat behind a bullet-proof glass window and a force of guards throughout the tightly secured event. Earlier, Police Insp.-Gen. Moshe Karadi toured the stadium along with Tel Aviv police chief Cmdr. David Tzur, who said the event was running smoothly despite heavy traffic and even heavier security that briefly delayed the entrance of the thousands of viewers. The events began on a bittersweet note with entry of surviving family members of those killed in the 15th Maccabiah, during which four Australian athletes drowned when a bridge collapsed beneath them on their way to the opening ceremony. Singers like Sarit Haddad, banged out some of her hits, and David D'or gave his falsetto version of "Hatikva." But the entrance of the some 7,000 athletes served as the event centerpiece, featuring some of Israel's greatest current athletes. Israeli pole-vaulter, Alex Averbuch carried in the country's flag. Israeli's only gold medalist, windsurfer Gal Fridman lit the Maccabiah torch, and judoka Arik Ze'evi read the "Athlete's Oath." What the event may have lacked in spontaneity, the athletes made up in enthusiasm. Israeli dancers in yellow and red leotards broke ranks and posed for pictures with Australian and Italian athletes. Then neat columns of nations set up by the events organizers fused into one another as the athletes mingled, trading pins, hats and even jerseys. The event's announcers introduced each of the delegations while trance music pounded in the background and fans cheered. The Italians meticulously matched their swank white pants and powder-blue jerseys. The Indian delegation arrived in sharp blazers and ties. The American delegation, composed of 700 athletes, took nearly half an hour to lap the stadium. The team was led by nine-time Olympic gold medal winner, Mark Spitz. Italy's delegation marched in, bearing a huge banner reading, "Italy loves Israel." Outside some Israelis tried to reciprocate. Before reaching a maze of security checks, visitors to the event passed through Israeli hawkers. "Welcome to Israel," shouted the heavyset man in gold chains, "Ladies, gentlemen: bagels 10 shekels!" And, in the latest sign that the corporate sponsorship conquered even this sporting event, the announcers asked the crowd to welcome the Energy Children's TV Channel Delegation. Finally the crowd roared for the entrance of the 2,000-strong Israeli delegation, some of whose athletes filmed the event on personal cameras or reported it home on their cellphones. The event was magical for many spectators who have dreamed of this moment for the last four years. Oren Gilad, the 32-year-old owner of a cafe near the embattled Hawara checkpoint outside Nablus had chaperoned two of his brothers, Ilan, 11 and Gilad 13 to the event. The two lads suffered trauma during a 2002 terror attack in Eilon Moreh and served as official flag bearers during the opening ceremony. "For my brothers, they'll forget everything they went through for ten minutes. This event has no politics and this will be for them an experience they never forget." said Gilad.