1981 Maccabiah Games
{{Short description|11th Edition of Maccabiah Games}}
{{Infobox games
| name = 11th Maccabiah
| logo = 1981 Maccabiah logo.jpg
| size = 240
| caption =
| host_city = Tel Aviv, Israel
| closing = July 16, 1981, in Jerusalem; Israeli President Yitzhak Navon
| opened_by = Torch lit by Tal Brody{{Cite web|url=http://talbrody.co.il/high.html|title=Israel Highlights|date=December 11, 2010|access-date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=December 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211134636/http://talbrody.co.il/high.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}
| stadium = Ramat Gan Stadium
| debuting_countries = {{Flag|Bermuda}}
{{Flag|Puerto Rico|1952}}
{{Flag|New Zealand}}
| previous = 10th Maccabiah
| next = 12th Maccabiah
}}
The 11th Maccabiah Games brought 3,450 athletes to Israel from 35 nations. The Opening Ceremony was held on July 7, 1981, before a crowd of 53,000 and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Ramat Gan Stadium, with 3,500 Jewish athletes parading past him. Representative Jack Kemp (R; New York) and a supporter of Israel, marched with the United States team. Israel won the most medals (199), with 65 gold. The United States won 188 medals, 85 gold. South Africa, Britain, and Canada had the next-most total medals.
The 31-sports menu included rugby union,Bath, Richard (ed.) The Complete Book of Rugby (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}}), p.68 sailing and softball for the first time. New facilities for squash, wrestling, karate, and judo were introduced.
History
The Maccabiah Games were first held in 1932.{{Cite web|url=https://thecjn.ca/perspectives/20th-maccabiah-games-pt-1/|title=A brief history of the Maccabiah Games|date=June 19, 2017|website=The Canadian Jewish News}} In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTHRB6Fj_4gC&dq=maccabiah+games+olympics+regional+sport+event&pg=PA56|title=Gender Politics and the Olympic Industry|author=Helen Jefferson Lenskyj|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2012|isbn=9781137291158}}Mitchell G. Bard and Moshe Schwartz (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=PeJFAAAAQBAJ&dq=Bard+and+Schwartz+maccabiah&pg=PA85 1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel] p. 84.{{cite web|title=History of the Maccabiah Games|url=http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm|publisher=Maccabi Australia|access-date=|archive-date=2018-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002319/http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm|url-status=dead}} Among other Olympic and world champions, swimmer Mark Spitz won 10 Maccabiah gold medals before earning his first of nine Olympic gold medals.{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/news/510411/at-the-maccabiah-300-jewish-american-athletes-become-bar-and-bat-mitzvah/|title=At Maccabiah Games, 300 Jewish American athletes become bar and bat mitzvah|date=July 14, 2022|website=The Forward}}
Notable competitors
File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Israeli High Jumping Champion Gideon Harmat.jpg
In gymnastics, American Mitch Gaylord won 6 gold medals; he later went on to win Olympic gold. American Olympian Abie Grossfeld was Team USA's coach.{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/grossfeld-abraham-israel|title=Grossfeld, Abraham Israel|website=encyclopedia.com}}
American tennis players Brad Gilbert (in doubles, with Jon Levine, over fellow Americans Rick Meyer and Paul Bernstein), Andrea Leand, and Jeff Klaparda earned gold medals.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19810716&id=tPgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WCMIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2816,232842&hl=en|title=U.S. cage squad tops Israel, 91–71|date=July 16, 1981|work=Bangor Daily News|page=22|access-date=3 January 2016}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.maccabiusa.com/history.htm|title=Maccabi USA: History|date=November 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116052744/http://www.maccabiusa.com/history.htm |archive-date=2007-11-16 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/sports/us-five-captures-maccabiah-crown.html|title=U.S. Five Captures Maccabiah Crown|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 16, 1981}} Justin Gimelstob was an assistant coach of Team USA's tennis squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/05/sports/an-athlete-tests-the-scholarship-system.html|title=AN ATHLETE TESTS THE SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=July 5, 1981|work=The New York Times}} Israeli Shlomo Glickstein, who carried the Maccabiah torch into the stadium for the opening ceremony, won the men's singles in tennis (defeating Brad Gilbert), the first Israeli to win a Maccabiah tennis championship.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/17/sports/maccabiah-games-end-israel-s-199-medals-lead.html|title=MACCABIAH GAMES END; ISRAEL'S 199 MEDALS LEAD|date=July 17, 1981|work=The New York Times}} Americans Dana Gilbert and Donna Rubin won the women's doubles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/sports/us-five-captures-maccabiah-crown.html|title=U.S. Five Captures Maccabiah Crown|date=July 16, 1981|work=The New York Times}}
In basketball, David Blatt, Danny Schayes (the first round draft pick of the NBA's Utah Jazz; carried the US flag in the opening ceremony), Al Walker, and Willie Sims won a gold medal with Team USA.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/05/nyregion/sports-coach-set-for-israeli-games.html|title=Sports; COACH SET FOR ISRAELI GAMES|first=Esther|last=Blaustein|date=July 5, 1981|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/23/sports/basketball-talent-on-stage-at-xavier-xavier-provides-a-basketball-showcase.html|title=Basketball Talent On Stage at Xavier; Xavier Provides a Basketball Showcase|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=June 23, 1981|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://maccabiusa.com/danny-schayes-appointed-as-a-member-of-the-basketball-staff-for-the-2018-international-maccabi-youth-games/|title=Danny Schayes Appointed As A Member of the Basketball Staff For The 2018 International Maccabi Youth Games}}
American fencers Paul Friedberg won a gold medal for the US in saber, Peter Schifrin won a silver medal in épée, and Elaine Cheris won an individual silver medal and a team gold medal in foil. British sabre fencer Paul Klenerman, who three years later fenced in the Olympics, also medaled.{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19840829-01.1.2|title=Jewish Post|date= 29 August 1984|website=library.in.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtNjAAAAIAAJ&q=Paul+Klenerman+jewish|title=Jewish Life|date=July 30, 1982|publisher=Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America|via=Google Books}} Canadian future Olympian Shelley Steiner won a gold medal.{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.lib.sfu.ca/cjn2-28862/page-6|title=August 13, 1981, page 6|work= The Canadian Jewish News}}
In track and field, James Espir of Great Britain, who earlier that year had run a mile in 3 minutes 56.7 seconds, thereby becoming the fastest Jewish miler ever, won the 1500 metres and 5000 metres gold medals on successive days.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/sports/us-five-captures-maccabiah-crown.html|title=U.S. Five Captures Maccabiah Crown|date=16 July 1981|work=The New York Times}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/15/Track-and-Field-Results-Maccabiah-Jones-At-Tel-Aviv-Israel-July-15/7513364017600/|title=Track and Field Results, Maccabiah Jones At Tel Aviv, Israel, July 15|website=UPI}}{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=JPOST19810731-01.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title= 31 July 1981|website=Jewish Post}} Maya Kalle-Bentzur of Israel won the gold medal in the women's long jump, and Israeli future Olympian Yehuda Zadok won the gold medal in the 10,000 m race.{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/13/Track-and-Field-Results-Macabiah-James-At-Tel-Aviv-July-13/3259363844800/|title=Track and Field Results Maccabiah Games at Tel Aviv, July 13|publisher=UPI}} Boris Djerassi of the United States won a gold medal in the hammer throw.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/15/sports/us-takes-3-golds-soccer-team-in-final.html|title=U.S. Takes 3 Golds; Soccer Team in Final|date=July 15, 1981|work=The New York Times}} Dave Edge of Canada, a long-distance runner who later competed in two Olympics, won a silver medal in the 10,000 m and a bronze medal in the mini-marathon.{{cite web |title=1981 Team Canada Delegation |url=https://www.maccabicanada.com/1981-maccabiah-delegation |website=Maccabi Canada |access-date=30 September 2022}} Canadian Gordon Orlikow, who later was a bronze medalist in the decathlon at the Pan American Games, won a bronze medal in the decathlon and a silver medal in the 110 m hurdles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/13/Track-and-Field-Results-Macabiah-James-At-Tel-Aviv-July-13/3259363844800/|title=Track and Field Results Macabiah James At Tel Aviv, July 13|website=UPI|date=July 13, 1981}}
Swimming for Israel at the age of 14, Israeli future Olympian Hadar Rubinstein won gold medals in the women's 100 m butterfly, and in the women's 200 m butterfly.{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/09/The-United-States-swimmers-engaged-the-suprising-Israeli-squad/5704363499200/|title=The United States swimmers engaged the surprising Israeli squad...|publisher=UPI}}{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/08/United-States-athletes-hoped-to-increase-their-gold-medal-catch/8119363412800/|title=United States athletes hoped to increase their gold-medal catch...|publisher=UPI}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/17/sports/maccabiah-games-end-israel-s-199-medals-lead.html|title=ISRAEL'S 199 MEDALS LEAD|date=17 July 1981|work=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19810731-01.1.6|title= 31 July 1981|work=Jewish Post}} In swimming Lior Birkan won 3 gold and 2 silver medals. Mexican Helen Plaschinski won gold medals in swimming in the 100 and 200 m freestyle.
Mike Jeffries and Seth Roland represented the United States in soccer, winning a silver medal.{{cite web |url=http://www.maccabiusa.com/component/content/article/22/31-alumni-news.html |title=Alumni News |publisher=Maccabi USA |access-date=9 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012212/http://www.maccabiusa.com/component/content/article/22/31-alumni-news.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 }} Eli Ohana and Rafi Cohen represented Israel, winning a bronze medal.
In golf, American Corey Pavin won two gold medals.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hohspDWqzjwC&pg=PA83 |title=One thousand one facts everyone should know about Israel |year=2005 |first1=Mitchell Geoffrey |last1=Bard |first2=Moshe |last2=Schwartz |isbn=9780742543584 |access-date=April 4, 2011}}{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Dan |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/time-to-move-on-1.279840 |title='Time to move on' |work=Haaretz |date=March 11, 2011 |access-date=April 4, 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K_xKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OyINAAAAIBAJ&pg=6657,5048468&dq=corey-pavin+jewish&hl=en |title=Pavin Invited to Masters |newspaper=The Press-Courier |date=February 23, 1982 |first=Rich |last=Romine |access-date=April 4, 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/99202382.html?dids=99202382:99202382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+29%2C+1989&author=By+YORAM+KESSEL&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=ARGENTINE+GOLFERS+SIGN+UP+AT+THE+ELEVENTH+HOUR&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106090744/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/99202382.html?dids=99202382:99202382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+29,+1989&author=By+YORAM+KESSEL&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=ARGENTINE+GOLFERS+SIGN+UP+AT+THE+ELEVENTH+HOUR&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |title=Argentine Golfers Sign Up At The Eleventh Hour |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date= June 29, 1989 |first=Yoram |last=Kessel |access-date=April 4, 2011}}
Mark Berger, who three years later was to go on to win a silver medal in the Olympics, won a gold medal in wrestling, and a silver medal in judo. Canadian future Olympian Garry Kallos won two gold medals in wrestling, as did Canadian Olympian Howard Stupp.
In cricket, Alan Ezekowitz competed for England.{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/TheJerusalemPost1981IsraelEnglish/Jul%2019%201981%2C%20The%20Jerusalem%20Post%20Magazine%2C%20%231081%2C%20Israel%20%28en%29_djvu.txt|title=Full text of "The Jerusalem Post Magazine, 1981, Israel, English"}}
Participating communities
A total of 35 nations participated, in 31 sports, at 58 locations throughout Israel. Israel won the most medals (199), with 65 gold. The United States won 188 medals, 85 gold. South Africa, Britain, and Canada had the next-most total medals.
The number in parentheses indicates the number of participants that community contributed.
{{Div col|colwidth=13em}}
- {{Flag|Argentina}}
- {{Flag|Australia}}
- {{Flag|Austria}}
- {{Flag|Belgium}}
- {{Flag|Bermuda}}
- {{Flag|Brazil}}
- {{Flag|Canada}} (110){{Cite web|url=https://www.maccabicanada.com/about-us/history-and-milestones/11th-maccabiah-1981|title=11th Maccabiah 1981|website=Maccabi Canada}}
- {{Flag|Colombia}}
- {{Flag|Chile}}
- {{Flag|Denmark}}
- {{Flag|Ecuador}}
- {{Flag|Finland}}
- {{Flag|Great Britain}}
- {{Flag|Greece}}
- {{Flag|Guam}}
- {{Flag|India}}
- {{Flag|Israel}} (largest delegation)
- {{Flag|Italy}}
- {{Flag|Mexico}}
- {{Flag|Netherlands}}
- {{Flag|New Zealand}}
- {{Flag|Peru}}
- {{Flag|Puerto Rico|1952}}
- {{Flag|Republic of Ireland}}
- {{Flag|Singapore}}
- {{flag|South Africa|1928}}
- {{Flag|Spain}}
- {{Flag|Sweden}}
- {{Flag|Switzerland}}
- {{Flag|Uruguay}}
- {{Flag|United States}} (372; 2nd-largest delegation)
- {{Flag|US Virgin Islands}}
- {{Flag|Venezuela}}
- {{Flag|West Germany}}
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.jewishsports.net/the_maccabiah_games.htm Summaries of each of the Games]
{{Maccabiah Games}}