Maccabi JCC Games Dallas
Dallas – August 2015 and 300 local competitors have joined 1000 international visitors to take to track, field and pool to compete in the JCC Maccabi Games.
Michelle Israel, Head of Delegation of the Australian contingent sent this report of the Opening Ceremony:
Ready to compete
“The 35 Australian delegates gathered early to await the Opening Ceremony…as soon as the athletes entered the building they were constantly asked about pins and accessories to swap…I do not think they took the trading seriously until now…and of course, some came a little under prepared…lots of photos with other delegations, snacks and water provided, as we were shepherded towards the entrance, the noise increased and the excitement grew…for a group of athletes who had not participated in an international Maccabi event before, they were in for a surprise!!!!
This evening we were privileged to march as an Australian delegation into the SMU Moody Coliseum to deafening roars from an enthusiastic crowd…lots of cheering, flag waving and an Aussie, Aussie, Aussie heard amongst the crowd, our supporters managed to get seats together and assisted in the enthusiastic greeting that we received.
As we awaited the rest of the delegations, the cheering was very loud for both Mexico and Panama, but, the Israeli’s received the loudest cheer…As Dallas entered the stadium, the roof was lifted…our wat of showing appreciation to all the wonderful billet families and their kids.
As we entered earlier in the evening, each member of the games were given a set of dog tags, tonight, every one had the name of one of the Munich 11 athletes and a quote from the talmud…these dog tags will be added to as the games progress…
The ceremony included the athletes oath read by Olympian and former JCC Maccabi Games athlete, Lenny Krayzelburg, the adults oath read by the Games Athletics Chair, Steve Schneider.
We had a very brave 7-year-old girl read a speech calling for bone marrow donors…I will try to find the exact link.
We paused for American, Canadian and Israeli national anthems, we did a tribute to the Munich 11 which also involved members of the games standing at the time the name on their dog tags was read out…and then we ended with the JCC Maccabi Games torch being lit by a Holocaust survivor…
All in all, a wonderful evening
Game on tomorrow, there is a full schedule in the pool and both basketball teams have two games each…until tomorrow
Game on Y’all”
