2023 Maccabiah Games
| Host city | Ruhpolding, Germany |
|---|---|
| Nations | 20 |
| Athletes | 400 |
| Opening | 1 January 2023 |
| Closing | 9 January 2023 |
| Winter | |
The 3rd Winter Maccabiah was an international winter sports sports event held from 1 January 2023 to 9 January 2023 in Ruhpolding, Germany.[1][2] Approximately 400 athletes from 20 nations participated in the games.[3] The 2023 Maccabiah Games were notable for being the first Jewish Winter Maccabiah Games in 87 years. [1][2] German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock highlighted the event as a celebration of Jewish culture and identity. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, described the games as a significant symbol of Jewish life in Germany.
History
[edit]The Winter Maccabiah served to revive a historical tradition and provided an opportunity for Jewish athletes to compete in winter sports in a significant cultural context. About 400 athletes participated in various sports, including alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, biathlon, figure skating, Bavarian curling, and snow volleyball. The event featured an opening ceremony on January 1, along with cultural activities such as a combination havdalah and pool party, a Kabbalat Shabbat, and a closing ceremony on January 9. Events were livestreamed on YouTube.
Participants
[edit]The 2023 Winter Maccabiah was open to participants who are members of Jewish Maccabi sports clubs worldwide, regardless of religion or nationality. 20 nations participated, including:
Australia
Germany – host country and largest delegation[3]
Israel
Ukraine
United States – all sports but snow volleyball
References
[edit]- ^ a b Kovac, Adam (3 January 2023). "First Jewish Winter Games held in more than 85 years kick off in Germany; Athletes wave the Israeli flag and are set to compete in skiing, figure skating and snowboarding". Forward.
For the first time in more than 85 years, Jewish athletes are competing in Maccabi winter games — and they're doing it in Germany. The Makkabi Deutschland Winter Games kicked off Tuesday in Ruhpolding, in the Bavarian Alps.
- ^ a b "Maccabi Germany holds winter games for first time in over 80 years; Athletic event held for first time since 1936 when it took place in Czechoslovakia at the onset of World War II". Israel National News. 2 January 2023.
Athletic event held for first time since 1936 when it took place in Czechoslovakia at the onset of World War II.
- ^ a b "Jüdisches Wintersportfest: 'Makkabi verbindet über Grenzen hinweg'". Tagesschau (in German). ARD. 2 January 2023.
Bei den aktuellen Winterspielen in Ruhpolding kann jeder teilnehmen, der Mitglied in einem der weltweiten jüdischen Makkabi-Sportvereine ist - unabhängig von Religion und Nation. Bis zum 9. Januar werden fast 400 Teilnehmende und Freiwillige aus 20 Ländern erwartet. Sie kommen unter anderem aus Australien, Israel, der Ukraine und den USA. Deutschland stellt als Gastgeberland die größte Mannschaft.
