The 10th Maccabiah

The Tenth Maccabiah took place in July 1977, during an exceptionally  hot summer, and on the eve of a political upheaval. This was the year that the right-wing party, led by Menachem Begin, rose to power, and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat made his historic visit to Jerusalem. Israel had garnered international attention, just a year after the daring Entebbe rescue operation, the crowning of Rina Mor as Miss Universe, and Maccabi Tel Aviv’s dramatic victory in the European Basketball Championship playoffs (78:77).

Nearly twice as many athletes participated compared to previous Maccabiot: 2,700 athletes from 34 countries, including Norway, Japan, the Virgin Islands, Jamaica, Ecuador, and even one track and field competitor from Bolivia. The number of events was increased to 28, including badminton, karate, mini football, and even bridge and chess, games not typically featured in sports competitions. (For comparison, the 1988 Seoul Olympics included only 23 events.) Meanwhile, cycling was permanently removed from the Maccabiah program. 

The Opening Ceremony, attended by the President of the State of Israel and Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, drew a crowd of 50,000 spectators.  A special delegation of Maccabiah founding members marched separately, paying tribute to the event’s legacy. The ceremony concluded with a breathtaking freestyle parachuting display.

Competitions were held across the country, with the most outstanding performances in soccer, swimming, tennis, table tennis, gymnastics, and weightlifting. A total of 55 Maccabiah records were broken, many by legendary swimmer Mark Spitz. Israel led in all team sports, except basketball, where they fell to the United States in the final playoff (91:92). In the pool, the Americans were unstoppable, while in track and field, Australian athletes gave them a strong challenge. Tennis became the most popular sport of the Ga,es, with 18 countries participating in the main tournament and 10 in the Masters (for players over 45). Gymnastics also drew significant attention, with gymnasts from Denmark, France, Germany, and the Netherlands showcasing special routines. The athletes competed at the state-of-the-art venues, including Tel Aviv University’s newly built Olympic swimming pool. Tennis was hosted in Afeka, gymnastics in Haifa’s Sports Palace, and various events at Kibbutzim sports complexes.

The budget for the Tenth Maccabiah was 16.5 million Israeli pounds. Public institutions contributed 700,000 pounds, while commercial journal advertisements raised another 100,000. Ticket sales brought in 2,645,000 Israeli pounds, with ticket prices ranging from 50 to 75. Most tickets were sold for the basketball games, swimming events, opening ceremony, and closing game. However, the organizers faced a deficit of 870,000 Israeli pounds.

Beyond the sports competitions, the Maccabiah placed strong emphasis on social and nationalistic elements. Organizers arranged social gatherings, gala performances, tours, and even a special reunion for athletes from the First Maccabiah, including General (Res.) Avigdor Ben-Gal, Nicky Hershel, and Yitzhak Hirschler. To enhance professionalism, two pre-Games training courses were conducted for judges and coaches from Israel and the Diaspora, focusing on international sports regulations. Another first was an international children's art exhibit, featuring artwork from 21 countries. Throughout the Games, well-attended seminars were held on sports medicine, the history of physical education, and Jewish sports.

However, the Tenth Maccabiah also reflected a difficult reality that contradicted the spirit of previous Games. Unlike past Maccabiot, which had strongly encouraged Aliyah, this time, many delegations from the Diaspora included a high percentage of yordim (Israelis who had emigrated), mirroring the broader emigration trend of the 1970s. Despite this, the Maccabiah organizers remained committed to their mission, striving to strengthen the connection between Jewish youth and the Land of Israel.

Notable Athletes, Winners, and Sports Achievements:

• Mark Spitz who broke some of the Maccabiah records. 

•  K. Kering set a new decathlon record (6,859 points).

•  American swimmer Wendy Weinberg won the bronze medal in the 800-meter freestyle at the Montreal Olympics.

• Veteran Canadian sprinter Abigail Hoffman, one of the best in the world in the 800-meter race.

• Venezuelan table tennis champion Elizabeth Popper.

• Australian weightlifting champion Ivan Katz.

• Ernie Greenfield, a member of the United States all-star basketball team that won the gold medal at the Montreal Olympics.

• Great Britain assembled a Maccabiah all-star soccer team, including Ricky George, who later played professionally for Hartford United.

• Among the outstanding Israeli athletes were swimmer Anat Farkash, who won two gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter breaststroke; track and field stars Mira Bolova, Diane Hoopert, and Esther Shachamorov, who dominated their events (Shachamorov won three gold medals); and Israeli-born Mickey Berkovitz, a basketball standout alongside his teammates Motti Aroesti, Barry Leibowitz, Steven Kaplan, and Pini Chozaz.

Joining the Party: Countries Who Participated for the First Time

• Norway

• Japan

• The Virgin Islands

• Jamaica

• Ecuador

• Bolivia

 

Say Hello: New Sports Competitions

• Badminton

• Karate

• Mini football

• Bridge 

• Chess

Saying Goodbye: Categories From Previous Maccabiot That Were Left Out 

• Bicycle competitions