Hundreds of athletes from countries throughout the free world attended the opening session of the World Maccabiah Congress here last night. Many of the athletes were engaged in practice sessions today, as the sixth Maccabiah International Games were being prepared for opening the global competitions, at Ramat Gan hear here, next Wednesday morning.
Abba Eban, Minister of Education and former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and United Nations, addressed the congress–speaking in four languages, Hebrew, English, French and Spanish. The 800 Jewish athletes from 26 countries, housed in a special Maccabiah Village, represent North and South America, Australia, South Africa, India, countries in Western Europe–and there is one, a tennis player, from the Congo.
The largest aggregations of athletes present are from South Africa and from the United States. Max J. Lovell, national chairman of the United States Maccabiah Games Committee, received a message from President Kennedy, praising the committee for “encouraging young people of different nationalities to recognize the many common bonds and interests which united them, regardless of language or country of origin.” President Kennedy extended his “best wishes” to the American athletes who, he stated, “will contribute to international good will, and advance the spirit of sportsmanship.”
Olympic Champion Rafer Johnson, from the United States, is athletic adviser to all the contingents, and will remain here for several months after the games to train Israeli athletes at the Wingate Institution.
Olympic Champion Rafer Johnson, from the United States, is athletic adviser to all the contingents, and will remain here for several months after the games to train Israeli athletes at the Wingate Institution.
Maccabiah Village, which was dedicated this weekend in ceremonies presided over by Pierre Gildes, game chairman, and Lord Nathan of Churt, will become an international youth hostel when the games are over. While the competitions will not start until Wednesday, ceremonies opening the games will be held at Ramat Gan Tuesday. The Maccabiah is scheduled to close September 5.
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