The Maccabiah Games, first held in 1932, are an international Jewish and Israeli multi-sport event now held quadrennially in Israel. The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. It is the third-largest sporting event in the world by number of competitors, with 10,000 athletes competing. The Maccabiah Games were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee in 1961.
The 2005 Maccabiah Games, held in Israel, were the 17th incarnation of the 'Jewish Olympics.' They attracted the largest attendance of any Maccabiah Games, including more than 900 representatives from the United States, almost 500 from Australia, and more than 2,000 from Israel, bringing the total participants to more than 7,700 from 55 countries.
The 2nd Maccabiah, aka the Aliyah Olympics, which was held in April 1935, was the second edition of the Maccabiah Games. The games were held despite official opposition by the British Mandatory government. A total of 28 countries were represented by 1,350 athletes.
The 2009 Maccabiah Games, the 18th incarnation of the Maccabiah Games, were held in July 2009. According to the organizing committee these were the largest games held yet. These Games were the world's fifth-largest sporting event, behind the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Police and Fire Games, and Universiade. On the 13 July, more than 6,000 Jewish athletes from all over the world joined Team Israel's 3,000 participants at the Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv District, Israel, for the opening ceremony. American swimmer Jason Lezak was given the honor of lighting the Maccabiah torch at the Opening Ceremony.
The Women's 100 metre freestyle event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games took place on 19 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated. Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The men's 100 metre backstroke event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games took place on 9 July, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the backstroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The men's 100 metre backstroke event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 13 July, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the backstroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The men's 200 metre backstroke event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 10 July, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the backstroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool.
The women's 100 metre backstroke event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 13 July, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the backstroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The women's 400 metre freestyle event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 13 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated. Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of eight lengths of the pool.
The women's 800 metre freestyle event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place 14 June, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated. Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of sixteen lengths of the pool.
The men's 1500 metre freestyle event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place 14 June, at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle swimming, which means that the method of the stroke is not regulated. Nearly all swimmers use the front crawl or a variant of that stroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of thirty lengths of the pool.
The men's 100 metre breaststroke event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 13 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the breaststroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of two lengths of the pool.
The men's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 10 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used the breaststroke. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of four lengths of the pool.
The women's 400 metre individual medley event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 11 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used medley swimming. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of eight lengths of the pool. The first two lengths were swum using the butterfly stroke, the second pair with the backstroke, the third pair of lengths in breaststroke, and the final two were freestyle. Unlike other events using freestyle, swimmers could not use butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke for the freestyle leg; most swimmers use the front crawl in freestyle events anyway.
The men's 400 metre individual medley event at the 2005 Maccabiah Games took place on 11 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used medley swimming. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, this race consisted of eight lengths of the pool. The first two lengths were swum using the butterfly stroke, the second pair with the backstroke, the third pair of lengths in breaststroke, and the final two were freestyle. Unlike other events using freestyle, swimmers could not use butterfly, backstroke, or breaststroke for the freestyle leg; most swimmers use the front crawl in freestyle events anyway.
The women's 4×100 metre freestyle relay event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games took place on 12 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle as a relay, with swimmers typically using the front crawl. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, each of the four swimmers completed two lengths of the pool. The first swimmer had to touch the wall before the second could leave the starting block; timing of the starts was thus important.
The women's 4×200 metre freestyle relay event at the 2009 Maccabiah Games took place on 13 July at the Wingate Institute. This swimming event used freestyle as a relay, with swimmers typically using the front crawl. Because an Olympic size swimming pool is 50 metres long, each of the four swimmers completed four lengths of the pool. The first swimmer had to touch the wall before the second could leave the starting block; timing of the starts was thus important.
The 2022 Maccabiah Games took place in Israel from July 14-25, 2022, and are also referred to as the 21st Maccabiah Games. The Maccabiah Games are open to Jewish athletes from around the world, and to all Israeli citizens regardless of their religion. Israeli former Olympic judo medalist Arik Zeevi served as Maccabiah Chairman. Athletes from 80 countries competed in 42 sports categories. With 10,000 athletes participating, this was the largest Maccabiah Games ever.
