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Dec. 2, 2005
Vancouver will host Maccabi athletes
1,500 athletes will take over the Lower Mainland for JCC games
this August.
KYLE BERGER
When the dust settles, it will have been the largest event this
Jewish community has ever overseen. More than 1,500 teenage athletes,
hundreds of visiting coaches, delegation heads and fans from around
the world, plus 1,000 local volunteers, will have wrapped up a five-day
mini-Olympic games that took over the parks, gymnasiums, arenas,
pools and courts of the Lower Mainland.
That dust won’t even begin to settle until Aug. 18, after the
2006 JCC Maccabi Games closing ceremonies. This is the first time
our community has hosted the international event.
On Dec. 11, in conjunction with the Jewish Community Centre of Greater
Vancouver’s (JCC) Chanukah party, a special ceremony will take
place, officially inviting the entire community to become a part
of the games.
“Imagine the entire Jewish community of Greater Vancouver welcoming
the athletes in an Olympic-style opening at GM Place next August,”
said Garry Zlotnik, who is chairing the games along with Mark James
and Zev Shafran.
“The Maccabi Games will bring the Jewish community of Greater
Vancouver together like no other event, and Vancouver will have
the opportunity to present itself on the world stage, connecting
our community to all the other participating Maccabi cities and
countries.”
Athletes from cities across Canada, the United States and other
countries such as Israel, Mexico, Venezuela, Australia and Britain
will compete in venues all around Greater Vancouver, with the JCC
being the main hub. Team sports like basketball, soccer, baseball
and in-line hockey, plus individual sports such as tennis, bowling,
swimming and track and field will be featured.
Vancouver’s local delegation of athletes is expected to include
more than 250 teens.
The games have a tendency to leave solid community legacies, so
much so that some cities play host to Maccabi athletes every four
summers.
“Every participant, volunteer or spectator will be touched
in a unique way for years to come,” said Brenda Karp, the Vancouver
2006 JCC Maccabi Games director. “It’s going to affect
how the community relates to each other and the partnerships that
will grow out of it will have lasting effects.
“It’s already starting to happen when we’re at our
committee meeting and people are sitting at the table that never
knew each other,” Karp continued. “It’s a stepping
stone to another level of maturity for our community.”
“The opportunity for outreach is so important,” added
Gerry Zipursky, executive director of the JCC. “This will go
the extra mile in connecting with all the Jewish communities in
the Lower Mainland. After the games, there’s going to be ongoing
Maccabi programs in White Rock, Abbotsford, Richmond, Kelowna, Burquest
and Victoria.”
Already, there are 30 Victoria teens committed to this summer’s
games as part of Team Vancouver.
Zlotnik, James and Shafran have all had their own children participate
in the Maccabi games, leading to their involvement as chairs.
“Given that [James, Shafran and I] are all a little crazy,
we jumped at the opportunity to bring the games to Vancouver and
to take leadership roles,” said Zlotnik. “But it’s
all about the kids and seeing them bond together in a Jewish experience
that they might not have had without the games. That’s the
attraction.”
The Dec. 11 ceremony will emulate the spirit of the games, with
more than 50 JCC Maccabi alumni participating.
Emceed by former MTV host Brian Adler, the event will feature local
dignitaries such as Senator Larry Campbell, who will have some fun
participating in his TheatreSports debut with local improv star
Dan Joffre.
The JCC Maccabi Games take place every August, with four cities
playing host to a total of approximately 6,000 teen athletes.
This year, there will only be three host cities – Vancouver,
Stanford, Conn., and Phoenix, Az. New Orleans was originally scheduled
to be a host but was forced to cancel its games due to Hurricane
Katrina.
Vancouver’s participation in the games began in earnest in
1999, when a single soccer team was sent to Cherry Hill, N.J.
Alan Slater, the operations director for this summer’s games,
played a lead role in increasing Vancouver’s participation
each year. Last summer more than 100 local athletes participated
in games in St. Paul, Min and Dallas, Tex.
For more information about the games, or to get involved, call 604-257-5111.
Kyle Berger is a freelance journalist and graphic designer
living in Richmond.
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