Olympic Committee of Israel
Encyclopedia
The Olympic Committee of Israel (Hebrew: הוועד האולימפי בישראל) is the recognized National Olympic Committee
(NOC) of Israel
, and the governing body of Olympic sports in Israel. The OCI's headquarters is located at the "National Sport Center - Tel Aviv".
The OCI counts its foundation as occurring in 1933, when the Olympic Committee of Eretz Israel was founded in the British Mandate of Palestine and subsequently recognized by IOC
as the NOC of Palestine. It was, however, controlled exclusively by Maccabi
sports organization and oversaw only clubs affiliated to Maccabi, while neither rival Jewish sports organizations and in particular Hapoel
, nor non-Jewish sports organizations took part.
Although Eretz Israel was formally invited to participate in the 1936 Olympics
in Berlin
, it declined the invitation to attend the Games in Nazi Germany
.
In 1948, shortly after the state of Israel was established, its request to participate in the 1948 Olympics
was denied, as Palestine no longer existed and the NOC of the new state wasn't yet recognized by IOC.
The OCI was re-organized in 1951 under joint-leadership of Maccabi and Hapoel, the two major sports organization in the country. According to the agreement of the two organization, there were two presidents, one from each. This arrangement continued until 1967, and since then OCI has only one president.
OCI achieved IOC recognition in early 1952, just in time for Israel's Olympic debut at the 1952 Summer Olympics
in Helsinki
. OCI has sent delegations to all Summer Olympics since then, except for Moscow 1980
, which Israel boycotted over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Israel made its debut at the Winter Olympics only in 1994
, and has become a regular participant since then.
Between 1954 and 1974 Israel took part in the Asian Games
, but political pressure exerted by Arab countries led to Israel's exclusion from the re-organized Olympic Council of Asia
in 1981. In the early 1990s Israel was admitted into European sports organizations, and became full member of European Olympic Committees
in 1994. Since 1995, Israel has participated in the biannual European Youth Olympic Festival
.
National Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
(NOC) of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and the governing body of Olympic sports in Israel. The OCI's headquarters is located at the "National Sport Center - Tel Aviv".
The OCI counts its foundation as occurring in 1933, when the Olympic Committee of Eretz Israel was founded in the British Mandate of Palestine and subsequently recognized by IOC
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
as the NOC of Palestine. It was, however, controlled exclusively by Maccabi
Maccabi World Union
The Maccabi World Union is an international Jewish sports organisation spanning 5 continents and more than 50 countries, with some 400,000 members...
sports organization and oversaw only clubs affiliated to Maccabi, while neither rival Jewish sports organizations and in particular Hapoel
Hapoel
Hapoel is an Israeli sport association. It was established in 1926 as a union of the Histadrut, and represented the workers class...
, nor non-Jewish sports organizations took part.
Although Eretz Israel was formally invited to participate in the 1936 Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, it declined the invitation to attend the Games in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
.
In 1948, shortly after the state of Israel was established, its request to participate in the 1948 Olympics
1948 Summer Olympics
The 1948 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was held in London, England, United Kingdom. After a 12-year hiatus because of World War II, these were the first Summer Olympics since the 1936 Games in Berlin...
was denied, as Palestine no longer existed and the NOC of the new state wasn't yet recognized by IOC.
The OCI was re-organized in 1951 under joint-leadership of Maccabi and Hapoel, the two major sports organization in the country. According to the agreement of the two organization, there were two presidents, one from each. This arrangement continued until 1967, and since then OCI has only one president.
OCI achieved IOC recognition in early 1952, just in time for Israel's Olympic debut at the 1952 Summer Olympics
1952 Summer Olympics
The 1952 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Helsinki, Finland in 1952. Helsinki had been earlier given the 1940 Summer Olympics, which were cancelled due to World War II...
in Helsinki
Helsinki
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
. OCI has sent delegations to all Summer Olympics since then, except for Moscow 1980
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
, which Israel boycotted over the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Israel made its debut at the Winter Olympics only in 1994
1994 Winter Olympics
The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...
, and has become a regular participant since then.
Between 1954 and 1974 Israel took part in the Asian Games
Asian Games
The Asian Games, officially known as Asiad, is a multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from all over Asia. The Games were regulated by the Asian Games Federation from the first Games in New Delhi, India, until the 1978 Games. Since the 1982 Games they have been organised by the...
, but political pressure exerted by Arab countries led to Israel's exclusion from the re-organized Olympic Council of Asia
Olympic Council of Asia
The Olympic Council of Asia is a governing body of sports in Asia, currently with 45 member National Olympic Committees. The current president is Sheikh Fahad Al-Sabah. The oldest NOC is from Japan and Philippines, recognized by the International Olympic Committee in 1911; whereas East Timor is...
in 1981. In the early 1990s Israel was admitted into European sports organizations, and became full member of European Olympic Committees
European Olympic Committees
The European Olympic Committees is an organization based in Rome, Italy. Its European membership consists of 49 National Olympic Committees.- Member countries :...
in 1994. Since 1995, Israel has participated in the biannual European Youth Olympic Festival
European Youth Olympic Festival
European Youth Olympic Festival, known by its initials EYOF, is a biennial multi-sport event for youth athletes from the 48 member countries of the association of European Olympic Committees. EYOF has a summer edition, held for the first time in Brussels in 1991, and a winter edition, which began...
.