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There was excitement in the air. The energy level continued to rise. One could sense the positive feeling in the room as talk of Maccabi Canada and preparations for the 19th Maccabiah Israel Games were foremost in everyone’s mind. It was as if those gathered to keep the momentum going were ready to don the red maple leaf and head for the various venues halfway across the world.
The catalyst for this expression of emotion was a special visitor from The Promised Land. It’s been a week since the executive director of Israel-based Maccabi World Union landed in Montreal prior to his three-day stop in Toronto. In addition to having fruitful meetings with the Maccabi Canada executive, Eyal Tiberger’s visit left an indelible mark on the community.
Toronto was just one of the many stops Tiberger will make as the Games get closer and organizers firm up plans for everything, from the opening and closing ceremonies, to the introduction of new sports and the establishment of para-olympic competitions.
For Tiberger it has also been a chance to become more acquainted with the new Maccabi Canada executive and get an update from the second largest contingent, behind the United States, that attends the quadrennial games. “Canada is one of the leading delegations,” he said about their tireless commitment and dedication to previous games. “It’s one of the leading organizations in education and performance. It’s important for us to keep up the momentum.
“We talked about mutual plans, especially with fundraising. We want to help them fulfill their goals.”
And while Maccabi Canada’s goals are to equal or exceed the 500-plus strong delegation that attended in 2009, there is also a need to keep the bigger picture in mind.
“The idea is to develop Jewish life through Maccabi activities,” said Tiberger as he spoke to his attentive audience. “Under the current leadership there are ongoing activities throughout the year. It’s part of the long-term program. We are pleased to hear about regional activities in culture, sports and tournaments.”
Tiberger said the aims are the same for all 400,000 members of the 60-country union, “to attract youngsters to the Maccabi movement. The structure (of Maccabi) is different in each country. They have their own ways of developing programs”
With a $50 million budget for the Games, 70 per cent funded by the athletes and the balance from the Israeli government and fundraising, the aim is to make these Games the biggest yet. Tiberger said the objective is to attract 8,500 representatives from 70 countries, up from the 7,500 from 55 countries at the 18thMaccabiah. The numbers are very impressive considering there were only 380 athletes from 10 countries in 1932.
To achieve this goal Maccabi World Union has a three-fold plan; to introduce new sports including ice hockey (with Canada, Russia, France, Israel and the United States) and equestrian events; to host para-olympic athletes in wheelchair basketball, swimming and tennis; and to continue talks with delegations from around the world who, prior to 2013, stayed under the radar when it came to participating in international sporting events.
Tiberger said the delegations may be small, and may require some financial support from Maccabi World Union and its member countries, but they will try to make it happen. He said countries such as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Kenya and Nicaragua may be seen walking in during the opening ceremonies in the summer of 2013. They will contribute to the list of 28 different languages that are already spoken at the games.
A new venue also awaits athletes, representatives and supporters when they land in Israel. The opening ceremonies will be moved from the Tel Aviv area to Jerusalem in a refurbished stadium reconfigured to hold 32,000 people. The closing ceremonies will be in Haifa.
“We will provide them (the participants) with a Maccabiah experience which will fill them with self-esteem,” said Tiberger. “They will become ambassadors for the State of Israel.”
He added that in 2009 approximately 100 athletes decided to call Israel their home once the games concluded and that 68 per cent of the athletes that attended the games had never been to Israel before.
“The Maccabiah helps form the fabric of Jewish life around the world,” said Maccabi Canada President Tommy Bacher. “You make friends for life.”
He said the visit from Tiberger, who promised he would return to visit the Maccabi Canada executive again prior to the games, was “energizing for the volunteer base. It made them feel like they were part of something big.”
And if hard work from thousands of volunteers worldwide pays off, they will be a part of the biggest Maccabiah ever.
 

Article by Lester Glantz