5,000 members of the Maccabee Jewish Sports World Organisation marched in procession through the streets of Tel Aviv at 1.30 this afternoon from the Herzlia High School to the Stadium, where the World Maccabiade was opened at 3 o’clock, headed by the Mayor of Tel Aviv, Mr. Mayer Dizengoff, ###riding on horseback. About 30,000 people lined the roads, cheering the procession as it passed.
The official opening of the Maccabiade was signalised by a symbolic act, the release of 120 carrier pigeons – 10 for each of the 12 tribes – from the Stadium, conveying the news of the opening to all corners of Palestine.
The “Hatikvah” was then sung and an impressive march past followed, Mr. Lelewer, the President of the Maccabee World Organisation, taking the salute, and handing the colours to the representatives of each country.
The sports competitions then took place, the first winners being the American and the Czecho-Slovakian teams.
Over 20,000 spectators were in the Stadium watching the opening tournament.
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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.
