1977 Maccabiah Games
Called the Jubilee Maccabiah, the 1977 10th Maccabiah Games saw the number of competing athletes nearly double.
From 33 countries, 2,700 athletes came to compete in 26 sports.
Competition venues were spread throughout Israel, north to Haifa and among Israel’s kibbutzim. It was the largest sporting event ever held in the Middle East.
Karate,, bridge, and chess were debut events.
For the first time, international seminars on sports medicine and the history of Jewish sport and physical education were held within the Maccabiah framework.
The US regained its gold medal in basketball with the help of coach Dolph Schayes, an NBA legend, and his son Danny Schayes, who also went on to play in the NBA . Miki Berkovich and Motti Aroesti were among the Israeli basketball team's squad.
Esther Roth of Israel won the 100-meter hurdles in 13.50, and the 200-meter race in 24.03. Roth set records in the 100-meter hurdles, 200-meters, and 4×100-meters.
In fencing, 2-time Olympic bronze medal winner Yves Dreyfus of France won gold medals in individual and team épée.
In Tennis, Steve Krulevitz won the Gold Medal for the United States.
Read more about 1977 Maccabiah Games: Participating Communities, Link
Famous quotes containing the word games:
“In the past, it seemed to make sense for a sportswriter on sabbatical from the playpen to attend the quadrennial hawgkilling when Presidential candidates are chosen, to observe and report upon politicians at play. After all, national conventions are games of a sort, and sports offers few spectacles richer in low comedy.”
—Walter Wellesley (Red)