More than 8,000 athletes from 55 countries have gathered in Israel for the 22nd Maccabiah Games, which officially opened at Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium on Wednesday night.
Held under the theme “More Than Ever”, the ceremony celebrated Jewish unity, resilience and hope, with about 5,000 athletes joining the traditional Parade of Nations.
Team Australia had a small official delegation after Maccabi Australia reversed its earlier decision not to send a team. The board had decided on June 2 not to participate because DFAT’s advice for Israel was “do not travel”, but reviewed that position after the advice changed on June 17 to “reconsider your need to travel”.
As a result, 14 Australian athletes, mostly in individual sports and already in Israel, were cleared to compete as Team Australia rather than as unattached competitors and to march behind the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.
The small team will be supported by Maccabi World Union, which is assisting athletes from countries unable to send full official delegations. Maccabi Australia said it was important Australia not miss its first Maccabiah since joining the Games in 1950.
Table tennis masters athlete Sam Parasol, competing in his 10th Maccabiah, was chosen to carry the Australian flag, while Barry Lipp, competing in his fifth Games, carried the Maccabi Australia flag. Team members also attended a Tel Aviv commemoration for the four Australians who died in the 1997 Maccabiah bridge collapse: Greg Small, Yetty Bennett, Elizabeth Sawicki and Warren Zines.
The ceremony featured hundreds of dancers, pyrotechnics, large-scale staging and performances by Israeli and international Jewish artists.
Yuval Raphael, Israel’s 2025 Eurovision representative and a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre, opened the musical program. Netta Barzilai performed with Anna Zak, while Idan Raichel was joined by former Hamas hostages Daniella Gilboa and Edan Alexander in one of the night’s most emotional moments.
American performer and pro-Israel advocate Montana Tucker performed an original song and helped lead the athletes’ parade with Israeli-American musician and content creator Michael HarPaz.
The torch ceremony carried its own symbolism. Among those carrying the Maccabiah flame was Evyatar Zeituni, a disabled IDF veteran and former Paratroopers Brigade officer wounded while helping defend Kibbutz Kissufim during the October 7 attacks.
The Games were originally scheduled for 2025 but were postponed because of the war and security situation in Israel. Organisers say more than 8,000 athletes from about 55 countries will compete in 45 sports.
They have described this year’s Maccabiah as the most meaningful in a generation, bringing together Jewish athletes from Israel and the Diaspora during a period of war, rising antisemitism and concern across Jewish communities worldwide.
Competition is now under way across Israel and will continue until mid-July.