MACCABI FUN RUN 5K

DID YOU KNOW?

The Maccabiah Games (a.k.a. the World Maccabiah Games; Hebrew: משחקי המכביה‎, or משחקי המכביה העולמית; often referred to as the "Jewish Olympics"), first held in 1932, are an international Jewish and Israeli multi-sport event now held every four years in Israel.

Competitions at the Maccabiah are organized into four divisions – Open, Juniors, Masters, and Disabled. The Games are organized by the Maccabi World Union.

The regional games – known as the European and Pan Am Games – take place every four years as well – but during the off years. They also move around Europe and South America for each event. In 2019, the games will be held in Budapest, Hungary and Mexico City, Mexico – respectively.

The World Maccabi Games in Israel is the third-largest sporting event in the world, with 10,000 athletes competing (after the Olympics and the Pan Am Games).

In 2017, at the World Games, athletes competed on behalf of 85 countries, in 45 sports.

The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, as well as to all Israeli athletes regardless of religion. Arab Israelis have also competed in it.

Just like at the Olympics, the Maccabiah starts out with a "Parade of Nations", during which most participating athletes march into the stadium, country by country. The countries enter the stadium in accordance with the Hebrew alphabet. The parade of nations, in contrast to some other games, include junior and disabled athletes who also partake in the competitions. In accordance with the Maccabiah's tradition, the Israeli delegation always enters last.