The first Israeli sports team to visit the Soviet Union since it broke diplomatic relations with Jerusalem in 1967 participated in the seventh European judo championship tournament in Leningrad over the weekend. According to reports reaching here today, the nine young Israelis and the adults who accompanied them experienced a chill that was not due entirely to the Russian winter.
There was no one in official capacity to meet the Israeli team at Moscow airport and consequently they missed their plane connection to Leningrad and arrived late at the tournament. Their Israeli flags and emblems were confiscated by the Soviet authorities.
Otherwise, however, the Israeli team was received correctly and was made comfortable. Their performance at the tournament was poor, a fact attributed in part to the cold weather which Israelis are not accustomed to and to their excitement.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
