PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 10 – Maccabi USA is seeking Jewish athletes to represent the United States at the 20th World Maccabiah Games in Israel, July 5 – 17, 2017. The Games will consist of over 42 sports, lasting 12 days with 7,500+ athletes from over 70 countries. The World Maccabiah Games are the third largest international sporting competition in the world and the world’s largest international Jewish event. To learn more about the sports offered and to access an application, please visit our website.
Jeff Bukantz, General Chairman, USA 20th Maccabiah Organizing Committee, is working with his volunteer committee to appoint qualified athletes to represent the USA in both team and individual sports in the Juniors, Youth, Open, Masters and Paralympic divisions. They will field a USA Team that is 1,200+ strong and will be the largest traveling delegation from the USA to participate in any international sporting event.
“We are really excited about the chance to bring over 1,200 athletes to Israel for the 20th Games, which would surpass the previous record of 1,100 athletes during the 19th Games in 2013,” said Bukantz. “We have an extremely talented group of Sports Co-Chairs in place: Ben Fox of Norman, OK; Mark Knue of Cincinnati, OH; Loy Moyerman of Philadelphia, PA; Marc Rosenberg of Morristown, NJ; and Brian Schiff of Philadelphia, PA. We are all hard at work recruiting the best sports chairmen, coaches and athletes to build Team USA.”
The Maccabiah Games is more than an international sporting competition; it is a celebration of Jewish culture, unity and pride. ISRAEL CONNECT, Maccabi USA’s unique cultural and educational program, takes place for six days prior to the start of the Games. All Juniors, Youth and Open athletes participate in the program where they have the opportunity to tour historical and religious sites, take part in cultural identity seminars, and train with their respective teams, all while bonding with one another.
For more information, please contact Shane Carr at 267.627.5647 or by email at [email protected].
About the organization:
Maccabi USA (MUSA) is a federally-recognized not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization with an extensive history of enriching Jewish lives through athletic, cultural and educational programs. The organization is the official sponsor of the United States Team to the World Maccabiah Games, and the Pan American and European Maccabi Games, as well as a sponsor of the JCC Maccabi Games for teens in North America. As the official Maccabi representative in the U.S., Maccabi USA supports Jewish athletic endeavors, enhanced by cultural and educational activities in the United States, Israel and throughout the Diaspora.
MUSA develops, promotes and supports international, national and regional athletic-based activities and facilities. It strives to provide Jewish athletes the world over the opportunity to share their heritage and customs in competitive athletic settings. MUSA supports programs that embody the Maccabi ideals of Jewish Continuity, Zionism and Excellence in Sport. Maccabi USA Builds Jewish Pride Through Sports.
Maccabi USA has been designated as a U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) Multi-Sport Organization (MSO). The nonprofit organization is one of 35 MSOs nationwide to be recognized by the USOC for its ability to cultivate a national interest in sport and increase opportunities for participation internationally, nationally and at the grassroots level.
Swimming news courtesy of Maccabi USA.