Amid a week of glorious weather, Maccabi GB hosted over 900 delegates, managers, trainers and support staff from fourteen countries for GB’s first European Maccabi Youth Games (EMYG). Taking place from 30th July - 6th August, delegates enjoyed a jam-packed week of high level sport, Jewish education and social programming – the first event of its kind held in the UK.
Maccabi GB CEO Ashley Lerner commented, “As I said in my thank you speech at the Closing Party, the Maccabi Movement proudly use the Hebrew ‘chazak ve'ematz’, meaning ‘be strong and have courage’. Never more so has this been a truer testament as to the show of strength and unity from Jews travelling from across the world to be hosted by the amazing Jewish community here in Great Britain.”
The sporting events were of exceptional quality with competitions spanning basketball, field hockey, football, futsal, table tennis and tennis. Team GB did exceptionally well, topping the medal table with seven gold, five silver and four bronze medals, crowning them the eventual winners. The full results can be viewed at here.
EMYG also included a unique programme called the Access Games – with dedicated sporting activities for young Jewish teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As a very moving part of the schedule, these delegates had the opportunity to develop skills with members of the Israeli basketball team – some of which also have SEND – as well as training with delegates from the GB table tennis team. One father commented, “Thank you to the amazing team at Maccabi GB for giving my son the opportunity to be part of the Access Games. He’s had the week of his life! You have excelled at getting things so right for him and his friends every time and have succeeded where others have failed – thank you!”
These Games saw Gregor Kovar honoured with the Marjorie Ziff EMYG Tennis Award. As the sole delegate from Slovakia, Kovar was singled out for his sportsmanship, tenacity and for championing Maccabi’s inclusive values.
The sporting programme was supplemented with a range of adjacent activities focused on Jewish identity. A panel discussion on professional sport heard from footballers Dean Furman and Joe Jacobson, who spoke to a packed audience of delegates representing all countries. Other speakers and workshops included Shahar Peled, IDF reservist and international speaker, sessions with the Anti Defamation League and an incredibly moving talk from a former British Royal Marine Commando veteran and Paralympian, who has participated in Beit Halochem UK’s Veteran Games. Delegations also enjoyed sightseeing tours of Central London landmarks, as well as Camden and Covent Garden.
Despite the joyous nature of the Games, the war in Israel remained front of mind throughout the week. Each delegation ‘adopted’ a hostage held captive in Gaza, proudly displaying a shirt with their name at the Opening Ceremony which also adorned a chair at an empty Hostage table at Friday night dinner.
Jonathan Prevezer, Maccabi GB Chair commented, “I, together with the Board of Trustees, am immensely proud of what has been achieved with the European Maccabi Youth Games. Not only did we get to see an exceptionally high level of sporting prowess, but delegates immersed themselves in the full programme, enriching their cultural experience and enhanced Jewish identity. As we reflect on this monumental achievement, I want to pay special thanks to everyone at the University of Hertfordshire, CST, the catering team, the Maccabi GB staff, the incredible volunteers and madrichim, as well as the generosity of the donors, all who made the EMYG an outstanding success. We couldn’t have done it without each and every one of you.”
Comments