Sports in Israel
Encyclopedia
Sports in Israel are an important part of the national culture. Sports in Israel are pursued both competitively and for leisure. Israel
is engage in a wide range of athletic activities, with association football and basketball
being the most popular sports. Israel has won seven medals in the Olympic Games
, in judo
, canoeing
and windsurfing
, and an Israeli grandmaster is the holder of the 2009 Chess World Cup
. Israel also has a tradition of tennis
. Another major achievement by an Israeli athlete was in pole vaulting.
. The games that draw the largest crowds are those of the Israeli Premier League. In 1967, Hapoel Tel Aviv became the first club to win the Asian Club Championships. In the 2001–02 UEFA Cup Hapoel reached the quarter-finals after knocking out Chelsea
, Lokomotiv Moscow
and Parma
.
Israeli teams were also qualified four time to the UEFA Champions League
group stage, including Maccabi Haifa
in the 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons, Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2004–05 season and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 2010–11 season.
The Israel national football team
hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup
and qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup
, which was held in Mexico. Mordechai Spiegler
scored in a 1-1 draw against Sweden
. Israel's olympic football team qualified for the 1968 Summer Olympics
and the 1976 Summer Olympics
both times reaching the quarter finals. Israel's highest FIFA ranking was 15th in November 2008.
Famous matches of the Israeli football team include the 3–2 win in France
in the 1994 world championship qualifying games, which ended up disqualifying the French team from the championship in the United States, the defeat of Austria
5–0 in 1999 during Euro 2000 qualifications, and a 2–1 win over Argentina
in a friendly match in 1998, a game played in Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.
Successful Israeli players who also played outside Israel include Eli Ohana
, Giora Spiegel
, Ronny Rosenthal
, Avi Cohen
, Eyal Berkovich, Haim Revivo
, Dudu Aouate
and Yossi Benayoun
.
, 1981
, 2001
, 2004 and 2005. Another Israeli team, Hapoel 'Migdal' Jerusalem won the Eurocup in 2004. The Israel national basketball team
has participated 23 times in the European Championship
. Their best achievements were a silver medal in Eurobasket 1979
, and 5th place in 1953
and 1977
. The national team also played in two World Championships
and once in the Summer Olympic Games
.
Israeli basketball is known for its Israel national U20 basketball team
, winning silver medals twice, in 2000 and 2004, and finishing 4th twice (1994, 2005), 5th (1992), and 6th (2007).
Israel U-20 also took place in the U-21 World Championship, finishing twice in 7th place (2001,2005), and 6th place (1993).
Israeli player Omri Casspi
currently plays for the Sacramento Kings
in the NBA and was selected for the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge.
in Israel are mainly focused around the Maccabiah Games
and the international Olympic Games
, where Israel has achieved notable successes during its short history. The Soviet
-born Aleksandr Averbukh
is by far the most successful Israeli track and field athlete, having won three gold medals in the pole vault
at European championships (2000 — indoor
, 2002
and 2006
) as well as two medals at the World championships (1999
and 2001
).
Half Marathon
, the Jerusalem Half Marathon and Mount Tabor
Run take place annually in March. Another half marathon is held annually at Ein Gedi
, near the Dead Sea
. In 2011, Jerusalem will host Israel's first international marathon
.
(world ranked #22 at his peak), Amos Mansdorf
(ranked #18 at the time), Anna Smashnova
(ranked #15 at her best), Shahar Pe'er
(ranked #11 at her best) as well as the doubles team of Andy Ram
and Jonathan Erlich
(world #7 team in 2006 and 2008 Australian Open champions) - all of whom have trained at the Israel Tennis Centers
. Since 2008, both men's and the women's teams have qualified for the top groups in the world - the men are in the Davis Cup
world group, and the women are in the Fed Cup
world group I.
is the major swimming federation in Israel. Swimming is popular in Israel's many beaches along the Mediterranean coast, the Sea of Galilee
, in the Red Sea
at the shores of Eilat, in the Dead Sea
and in swimming pools. Famous Israeli swimmers include Eithan Urbach
, Michael Halika
, Gal Nevo
, Yoav Gath
, Yoav Bruck
, Vered Borochovski
and Anna Gostomelsky
. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
in Atlanta, Israel's team qualified to the final of the prestigious Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay. Uri Bergman
won 12 gold medals at the Paralympic Games
, and other paralympic swimmers such as Izhak Mamistvalov
and Keren Leibovitch
won several gold medals as well.
in Sweden. Local power Hapoel Rishon Lezion
qualified for the quarterfinals of the EHF Champions League
in 2000.
While chess
, as an intellectual sport, has always been played in Israel, the arrival of large numbers of Jewish immigrants
from the former Soviet Union
in the 1990s brought many chess grandmasters to Israel and increased interest in the game. Boris Gelfand
is the 2009 World Cup winner.
The activities conducted by the Israel Softball Association have assisted in the social integration of immigrants countrywide, and today its members also include many native Israelis.
The Association consists of 10 mens teams Divided into A Pool and B Pool, 3 womens teams,21 junior boys teams and 4 junior girls teams.
The Israeli National Teams represent the country in European Championships and other International Competitions.
is the current World Boxing Association
super welterweight champion. Roman Greenberg
is currently International Boxing Organization
's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion.
. Four are Greco-Roman wrestlers while the others are freestyle. Gotsha Tzitziashvily competed at the Summer Olympics in Athens
. He held the world championship title in the 84-kilogram weight class in 2003.
in 1979, failing to get past the first round. They also failed to progress beyond the first round in the 1982 tournament and 1986 tournament.
They reached the plate competition of the ICC Trophy in 1990 and 1994 and in 1996 competed in the first European Championship in Denmark
, finishing eighth in the eight team tournament.
In the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia, they faced political demonstrations throughout the tournament from the Islamic Party of Malaysia. They were the first Israeli sports team to play in the country and finished in 21st place.
In 1998, they finished ninth in the European Championship
ahead of only Gibraltar and the following year travelled to Gibraltar to take part in a quadrangular tournament also involving France and Italy.
Israel have been playing in Division Two
of the European Championships since 2000, finishing fifth in 2000, fourth in 2002, sixth in 2004 and seventh in 2006.
In November 2007, Israel were defeated in a relegation match against Croatia, in the first international cricket game played in Israel. The loss meant that they were relegated from the 2nd European division, to the 3rd Division. In 2009 they were promoted to Second division with a win over Croatia.
Rugby union
is a minor sport brought to the country by British soldiers during the Mandate era. The first game post-independence was in 1951, organized by Leo Camron
. A wave of immigration from English speaking countries, and France, since 1967 renewed interest in the sport, particularly in areas with large English-speaking populations such as Ra'anana
and Jerusalem. A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975. Israel's first international match was away to Switzerland
on 25 May 1981, and ended 9-9. The Israel Union joined the International Rugby Board
in 1988. Rugby union has also featured at the Maccabiah Games
since 1981. Israel has entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens
.
Family Stadium in Jerusalem. Currently there are 5 leagues playing American contact football, in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem (2 teams) and Modi'in. The game is mainly played by ex-pats from America, South Africa, England and France. The largest league in 2007 was men's contact, with 57 teams competing in the annual Holyland Bowl championship. The women's league is the WAFI which has 13 teams. The Yosef Goodman High School League has 12 teams, and the Tuesday Night co-ed league has 5 teams. Some 1000 players are involved in weekly football activities.
was introduced in Israel in 1999. Today there are teams in Raanana, Modi'in, Jerusalem, Efrat. Israel has sent senior and junior representatives to international events, culminating in its first international win in Ireland in June 2008. Israel is an associate member of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) and an associate member of the Federation of European Netball Associations (FENA).
, managed by Larry Baras, was established in 2007. It was the first professional baseball league in the Middle East
. In its first and only season it had six teams that played in three stadiums. The first and only champions were the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox
managed by Ron Blomberg
.
Ice Hockey Division II World Championships
.
, located in Metulla, a city on the Lebanese
border. Israel has been sending teams to the Winter Olympics since 1994. In 2002, Galit Chait
and Sergei Sakhnovski
finished sixth in ice dancing
. The Zareskis, a brother and sister ice-dancing pair, came in ninth in the 2008 world championships and first in the 2009 World University Games.
in Minsk.
clubs operate in various locations in Israel.
Krav Maga
taught to most citizens in the army, and practiced recreationaly throughout the country.
Judo
is one of the three sports in which Israeli athletes have won Olympic medals.
are an international Jewish athletic event, similar to the Olympics, held every four years in Israel. The first games were held in 1932
.
, Israeli sportsmen and teams are barred from some competitions. In many worldwide competitions, such as the Olympics
, some Arab
and Asian competitors avoid competing against Israelis. Some countries even force its sportsmen not to compete against Israelis or in Israel. Mushir Salem Jawher, a Kenya
n born marathon
er, lost his Bahrain
i citizenship after competing in the Kinneret Marathon
in Israel.
In a Palestinian attack
at the 1972 Summer Olympics
in Munich, Germany, eleven members of the Israeli team were murdered
.
. They include Rifat (Jimmy) Turk, Najwan Ghrayib
, Walid Badir
, Salim Toama, Abbas Suan
and more. Another Israeli Arab, Johar Abu Lashin
, born in Nazareth
, was an IBO
Welterweight champion.
Israel has won seven Olympic medals. Gal Fridman
won Israel's first Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
.
since the early days of organized sports in the country. The media
's influence on Israeli sports has increased considerably in recent years, which is most evident in Association football and Basketball, where team budgets rely largely on payments from television networks who bought the rights to broadcast sporting events.
Television
, radio
, newspapers and news web sites are the major channels where Israeli sport is analyzed, broadcast and discussed. Generally, Association football attracts the major attention of Israeli media, which is evident through all of the above channels.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
is engage in a wide range of athletic activities, with association football and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
being the most popular sports. Israel has won seven medals in the Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, in judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
and windsurfing
Windsurfing
Windsurfing or sailboarding is a surface water sport that combines elements of surfing and sailing. It consists of a board usually two to four metres long, powered by the orthogonal effect of the wind on a sail. The rig is connected to the board by a free-rotating universal joint and comprises a...
, and an Israeli grandmaster is the holder of the 2009 Chess World Cup
Chess World Cup
The Chess World Cup is the name given to a number of different chess tournaments. The format and significance of the tournaments has changed over the years....
. Israel also has a tradition of tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
. Another major achievement by an Israeli athlete was in pole vaulting.
Major sports
Association Football
Football is the most popular sport in Israel. (Kadur-regel, lit. football). The sport is under the jurisdiction of the Israel Football AssociationIsrael Football Association
The Israel Football Association , also known as IFA, is the governing body of football in Israel. It organizes the football leagues, Israeli Premier League, Israeli State Cup, Toto Cup and the Israeli national football team. The association is based in Ramat Gan...
. The games that draw the largest crowds are those of the Israeli Premier League. In 1967, Hapoel Tel Aviv became the first club to win the Asian Club Championships. In the 2001–02 UEFA Cup Hapoel reached the quarter-finals after knocking out Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Lokomotiv Moscow
FC Lokomotiv Moscow
The following years were rather successful as Lokomotiv were consistent in the national championships. However, performances after World War II suffered and actually in the space of five year Lokomotiv were relegated to the Soviet First League twice. In 1951, Lokomotiv came second and eventually...
and Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
.
Israeli teams were also qualified four time to the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage, including Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
in the 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons, Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2004–05 season and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 2010–11 season.
The Israel national football team
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup
1964 AFC Asian Cup
The 1964 AFC Asian Cup was the third AFC Asian Cup football tournament. The finals were held in Israel from May 26 to June 3, 1964.The tournament used a round-robin system, and host nation Israel won the title with a perfect record of three wins.-Venues:...
and qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
, which was held in Mexico. Mordechai Spiegler
Mordechai Spiegler
Mordechai "Motaleh" Spiegler is a former Israeli footballer. He remains Israel's record goalscorer, with 33 goals in 83 caps.In 2005, he was voted the 105th-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest...
scored in a 1-1 draw against Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. Israel's olympic football team qualified for the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
and the 1976 Summer Olympics
Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Football competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Sherbrooke. Groups A, C and D had only three teams instead of four, as Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia national teams adhered to African-led boycott of the Games against the participation of New...
both times reaching the quarter finals. Israel's highest FIFA ranking was 15th in November 2008.
Famous matches of the Israeli football team include the 3–2 win in France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
in the 1994 world championship qualifying games, which ended up disqualifying the French team from the championship in the United States, the defeat of Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
5–0 in 1999 during Euro 2000 qualifications, and a 2–1 win over Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in a friendly match in 1998, a game played in Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.
Successful Israeli players who also played outside Israel include Eli Ohana
Eli Ohana
Eli Ohana is a former Israeli football player and later a manager. He is currently the manager of the Israel U21 team. He is considered to be one of the greatest Israeli players ever.-Early life and playing career:...
, Giora Spiegel
Giora Spiegel
Giora Spiegel , is a former Israeli footballer and coach. As a footballer, he holds the record for the longest Israeli career, spanning 14 years and 357 days.-Biography:...
, Ronny Rosenthal
Ronny Rosenthal
Ronny Rosenthal also known by the nickname Rocket Ronny is an Israeli former footballer. After starting his career in the city of his birth with Maccabi Haifa, Rosenthal went on to play in Belgium with Club Brugge and Standard Liège. He moved to Liverpool in 1990 for a fee of £1.1million, becoming...
, Avi Cohen
Avi Cohen
Avraham "Avi" Cohen was an Israeli footballer who played as a defender. He was best known for his spell playing for Liverpool in England. After retirement from active football and management, he was the chairman of the Israel Professional Footballers Association for over five years until he was...
, Eyal Berkovich, Haim Revivo
Haim Revivo
Haim Michael Revivo is a retired Israeli football player, and a businessman. He was especially famous for his free-kick goals and his entertaining celebrations after these goals.- From Ashdod to Tel Aviv :...
, Dudu Aouate
Dudu Aouate
David "Dudu" Aouate is an Israeli footballer who plays for RCD Mallorca in Spain, as a goalkeeper.-Club career:Aouate began his career at Maccabi Haifa F.C. at youth level, as an understudy to Nir Davidovich...
and Yossi Benayoun
Yossi Benayoun
Yosef Shai "Yossi" Benayoun is an Israeli international footballer who plays for Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.Benayoun plays as an attacking midfielder, often occupying the space just behind the striker. In Israel, he is sometimes nicknamed "The Diamond from Dimona". He is also the captain of the...
.
Basketball
Maccabi Tel Aviv dominates the domestic league and is among the top teams in Europe. Maccabi Tel Aviv has won the European championship 5 times, in 19771977 in sports
1977 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Lise-Marie Morerod, Switzerland-American football:...
, 1981
1981 in sports
1981 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup –** Men's overall season champion: Phil Mahre, USA** Women's overall season champion: Marie-Theres Nadig, Switzerland-American football:...
, 2001
Suproleague
FIBA SuproLeague was the FIBA professional club basketball Champions' Cup for the 2000-01 season. Up until that season, there was one cup, the FIBA European Champions' Cup , though in this season of 2000-01, the leading European teams split into two competitions: the FIBA SuproLeague and the ULEB's...
, 2004 and 2005. Another Israeli team, Hapoel 'Migdal' Jerusalem won the Eurocup in 2004. The Israel national basketball team
Israel national basketball team
The Israeli national basketball team is the basketball team that represents Israel in international competition.The Israeli team has participated 25 times in the European championship tournament. Their best achievements were a silver medal in Eurobasket 1979, and 5th place in 1953 and 1977...
has participated 23 times in the European Championship
Eurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
. Their best achievements were a silver medal in Eurobasket 1979
EuroBasket 1979
The 1979 European Basketball Championship, and in short Eurobasket 1979, was the 21st regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Twelve national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition. The competition was hosted by Italy...
, and 5th place in 1953
Eurobasket 1953
The 1953 European Basketball Championship, commonly called Eurobasket 1953, was the eighth regional championship held by FIBA Europe. Seventeen national teams affiliated with the International Basketball Federation entered the competition. The competition was hosted by the Soviet Union,...
and 1977
EuroBasket 1977
-Final rankings:# # # # # # # # # # # # -Group A - Liège:-Group B - Ostend:-Places 9 - 12 in Liège:-Places 5 - 8 in Liège:-Places 1 - 4 in Liège:-Finals:-Team rosters:...
. The national team also played in two World Championships
FIBA World Championship
The FIBA World Championship is an international basketball competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of the International Basketball Federation , the sport's global governing body...
and once in the Summer Olympic Games
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
.
Israeli basketball is known for its Israel national U20 basketball team
Israel national U20 basketball team
The Israel national under-21 basketball team represents the country in various FIBA youth tournaments. It usually competes in the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship and used to compete in the now defunct FIBA Under-21 World Championship....
, winning silver medals twice, in 2000 and 2004, and finishing 4th twice (1994, 2005), 5th (1992), and 6th (2007).
Israel U-20 also took place in the U-21 World Championship, finishing twice in 7th place (2001,2005), and 6th place (1993).
Israeli player Omri Casspi
Omri Casspi
Omri Casspi is an Israeli professional basketball player. He is under contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers, but is playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. during the 2011 NBA lockout...
currently plays for the Sacramento Kings
Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are a professional basketball team based in Sacramento, California, United States. They are currently members of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
in the NBA and was selected for the NBA All-Star Weekend Rookie Challenge.
Track and field
Track and field athleticsAthletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
in Israel are mainly focused around the Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
and the international Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, where Israel has achieved notable successes during its short history. The Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-born Aleksandr Averbukh
Aleksandr Averbukh
Aleksandr Averbukh is a retired Israeli athlete who competed in the pole vault.-Biography:He is Jewish. He was formerly a decathlete competing for Russia, but in 1999 he became an Israeli citizen and rose to top level in pole vault....
is by far the most successful Israeli track and field athlete, having won three gold medals in the pole vault
Pole vault
Pole vaulting is a track and field event in which a person uses a long, flexible pole as an aid to leap over a bar. Pole jumping competitions were known to the ancient Greeks, as well as the Cretans and Celts...
at European championships (2000 — indoor
2000 European Indoor Athletics Championships
The 26th European Athletics Indoor Championships were held from Friday, 25 February to Sunday, 27 February 2000 in Ghent, Belgium.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:Key:-Participating nations:...
, 2002
2002 European Championships in Athletics
The 18th European Athletics Championships were held from 6 August to 11 August 2002 in the Olympic Stadium of Munich, Germany.-Track:1994 |1998 |2002 |2006 |2010 |...
and 2006
2006 European Championships in Athletics
The 19th European Athletics Championships were held in Gothenburg, Sweden, between 7 August and 13 August 2006. The competition arena was the Ullevi Stadium and the official motto "Catch the Spirit"...
) as well as two medals at the World championships (1999
1999 World Championships in Athletics
The 7th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Estadio Olímpico, Seville, Spain, between the August 20 and August 29....
and 2001
2001 World Championships in Athletics
The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 August and 12 August and was the first time the event had visited North America...
).
Marathons
Long distance running is popular in Israel. The Tel AvivTel Aviv
Tel Aviv , officially Tel Aviv-Yafo , is the second most populous city in Israel, with a population of 404,400 on a land area of . The city is located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline in west-central Israel. It is the largest and most populous city in the metropolitan area of Gush Dan, with...
Half Marathon
Half marathon
A half marathon is a road running event of . It is half the distance of a marathon and usually run on roads. Participation in half marathons has grown steadily recently. One of the main reasons for this is that it is a challenging distance, but does not require the same level of training that a...
, the Jerusalem Half Marathon and Mount Tabor
Mount Tabor
-Places:*Mount Tabor, a hill in Israel near Nazareth believed by many to be the site of the Transfiguration of ChristIn the United States:*Mount Tabor, Indiana, an unincorporated community...
Run take place annually in March. Another half marathon is held annually at Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi
Ein Gedi is an oasis in Israel, located west of the Dead Sea, near Masada and the caves of Qumran.-Etymology:The name En-gedi is composed of two Hebrew words: ein means spring and gdi means goat-kid. En Gedi thus means "Kid spring."...
, near the Dead Sea
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
. In 2011, Jerusalem will host Israel's first international marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
.
Tennis
Highly ranked players include Shlomo GlicksteinShlomo Glickstein
Shlomo Glickstein is an Israeli former professional tennis player.He reached his career-high singles ranking of World # 22 in November 1982, and his career-high doubles ranking of World # 28 in February 1986....
(world ranked #22 at his peak), Amos Mansdorf
Amos Mansdorf
Amos Mansdorf is a former professional tennis player.His best singles world ranking of 18 was the highest ever for any male, Israeli tennis player, reached in November 1987. His best doubles world ranking was 67, reached in May 1986.-Early life:...
(ranked #18 at the time), Anna Smashnova
Anna Smashnova
Anna Smashnova is a former professional tennis player from Israel. She retired from professional tennis after Wimbledon 2007.Smashnova, who has been noted as having a great last name for a tennis player, reached her career-high singles ranking of World # 15 in 2003. She was in 13 finals, and won...
(ranked #15 at her best), Shahar Pe'er
Shahar Pe'er
Shahar Pe'er is an Israeli professional tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is World No. 11, which she achieved on January 31, 2011 ....
(ranked #11 at her best) as well as the doubles team of Andy Ram
Andy Ram
Andy Ram is a professional tennis player from Israel, and the first Israeli tennis player to win a seniors Grand Slam event . He plays more doubles than singles as he prefers doubles more and wins more matches...
and Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Erlich
Jonathan Dario "Yoni" Erlich is a professional Israeli tennis player...
(world #7 team in 2006 and 2008 Australian Open champions) - all of whom have trained at the Israel Tennis Centers
Israel Tennis Centers
Israel Tennis Centers is the largest tennis program for children in the world, reaching more than 350,000 families—5% of the Israeli population...
. Since 2008, both men's and the women's teams have qualified for the top groups in the world - the men are in the Davis Cup
Davis Cup
The Davis Cup is the premier international team event in men's tennis. It is run by the International Tennis Federation and is contested between teams of players from competing countries in a knock-out format. The competition began in 1900 as a challenge between Britain and the United States. By...
world group, and the women are in the Fed Cup
Fed Cup
Fed Cup is the premier team competition in women's tennis, launched in 1963 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the International Tennis Federation...
world group I.
Swimming
Israel Swimming AssociationIsrael Swimming Association
The Israel Swimming Association is the major swimming federation in Israel; it brings together all clubs in the country, organizes the Israeli swimming championships as well as the swimming competition of the Maccabiah Games....
is the major swimming federation in Israel. Swimming is popular in Israel's many beaches along the Mediterranean coast, the Sea of Galilee
Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee, also Kinneret, Lake of Gennesaret, or Lake Tiberias , is the largest freshwater lake in Israel, and it is approximately in circumference, about long, and wide. The lake has a total area of , and a maximum depth of approximately 43 m...
, in the Red Sea
Red Sea
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
at the shores of Eilat, in the Dead Sea
Dead Sea
The Dead Sea , also called the Salt Sea, is a salt lake bordering Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Its surface and shores are below sea level, the lowest elevation on the Earth's surface. The Dead Sea is deep, the deepest hypersaline lake in the world...
and in swimming pools. Famous Israeli swimmers include Eithan Urbach
Eithan Urbach
Eithan Urbach is a former backstroke swimmer from Israel, who is considered to be one of the greatest swimmers in Israel's history...
, Michael Halika
Michael Halika
Michael Halika is a former medley swimmer from Israel, who competed in three events at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia as a member of the Israeli swimming team....
, Gal Nevo
Gal Nevo
Gal Nevo is an Israeli swimmer who holds three Israeli records in the 200m IM, 400m IM and 200m butterfly. He represented Israel at the 2008 Summer Olympics.-Biography:Nevo is Jewish....
, Yoav Gath
Yoav Gath
Yoav Gath is a backstroke swimmer from Israel, who represented his native country at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.-References:*...
, Yoav Bruck
Yoav Bruck
Yoav Bruck is a former swimmer from Israel, who competed in three Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992....
, Vered Borochovski
Vered Borochovski
Vered Borochovski is a former Israeli swimmer who represented Israel at the 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympics. She also holds three Israeli swimming records.In December 2002 she competed at the Jerusalem Cup. She swam a time of 27.38 in the 50m fly....
and Anna Gostomelsky
Anna Gostomelsky
Anna Gostomelsky is an Israeli swimmer who represented Israel at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics.-Biography:She is Jewish. She holds the most Israeli swimming records of any female swimmer....
. At the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, Israel's team qualified to the final of the prestigious Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay. Uri Bergman
Uri Bergman
Uri Bergman is an Israeli paralympic swimming champion.Bergman was born in 1953 in Kibbutz Givat Brener and contracted polio as a young baby. In his youth he was active in the Kibbutz's water polo team, and later joining the Israel Sports Center for the Disabled...
won 12 gold medals at the Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
, and other paralympic swimmers such as Izhak Mamistvalov
Izhak Mamistvalov
Izhak Mamistvalov is an Israeli swimmer.He represented Israel at the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he won two gold medals and one silver, and set two Paralympic records....
and Keren Leibovitch
Keren Leibovitch
Keren Or Leibovitch is an Israeli champion Paralympic swimmer.Leibovitch is a three-time world champion, a five-time European champion, a holder of three world records , and an eight-time Paralympic medal winner...
won several gold medals as well.
Handball
Israel's national handball team participated in the 2002 European Men's Handball ChampionshipEuropean Men's Handball Championship
The European men's handball championship is the official competition for senior men's national handball teams of Europe, and takes place every two years. In addition to crowning the European champions, the tournament also serves as a qualifying tournament for the World Championship...
in Sweden. Local power Hapoel Rishon Lezion
Hapoel Rishon LeZion (handball)
Hapoel Rishon LeZion The team was founded in 1968 and since then has become a regular member of the first division and the most successful team in Israeli handball, having won a record 15 league titles, a record 12 Israeli cups...
qualified for the quarterfinals of the EHF Champions League
EHF Champions League
The EHF Champions League is the most important professional club handball competition in Europe . The competition was started in the 1956–57 season, and is administered by the European Handball Federation.The most successful teams are from Germany and Spain...
in 2000.
Chess
Israeli Chess Championship
The Israeli Chess Championship is a chess event held every year in Israel.-History:From 1951-1971, the men's and women's championships were held every two years, eventually becoming an annual event...
, as an intellectual sport, has always been played in Israel, the arrival of large numbers of Jewish immigrants
Aliyah
Aliyah is the immigration of Jews to the Land of Israel . It is a basic tenet of Zionist ideology. The opposite action, emigration from Israel, is referred to as yerida . The return to the Holy Land has been a Jewish aspiration since the Babylonian exile...
from the former Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
in the 1990s brought many chess grandmasters to Israel and increased interest in the game. Boris Gelfand
Boris Gelfand
Boris Abramovich Gelfand is a Belarus-born Israeli chess Grandmaster. He won the 2011 Candidates Tournament and will challenge Viswanathan Anand for the World Chess Championship 2012.-Biography:...
is the 2009 World Cup winner.
Softball
The Israel Softball Association (fastpitch) was established in 1979 by a group of immigrants from North and South America. The Israel Softball Association is a registered Non Profit Organization which is recognized by the Sports Authorities in Israel and is a member of “Ayelet” - the Israeli Association of Non-Olympic Competitive Sports.The activities conducted by the Israel Softball Association have assisted in the social integration of immigrants countrywide, and today its members also include many native Israelis.
The Association consists of 10 mens teams Divided into A Pool and B Pool, 3 womens teams,21 junior boys teams and 4 junior girls teams.
The Israeli National Teams represent the country in European Championships and other International Competitions.
Boxing
In Israel, boxing is not just a sport but an educational vehicle for helping young people overcome prejudices. The Israel Boxing Association (IBA) operates certified gyms in cities throughout the country, with 1,800 active members from Arab villages and Ethiopian and Russian immigrant population centers. Boxers as young as 11 train and participate in matches organized by the association. Israeli Yuri ForemanYuri Foreman
Yuri Foreman is a Belarusian-born Israeli-American professional boxer. He is a former World Boxing Association super welterweight champion...
is the current World Boxing Association
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
super welterweight champion. Roman Greenberg
Roman Greenberg
Roman Greenberg is a British-based Israeli heavyweight boxer, currently International Boxing Organization's Intercontinental heavyweight champion, with a 27–1 record. Greenberg has been nicknamed the "Lion from Zion."-Biography:...
is currently International Boxing Organization
International Boxing Organization
The International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion.
Wrestling
Seven Israeli wrestlers will be competing at the 2010 Senior European Championship in BakuBaku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
. Four are Greco-Roman wrestlers while the others are freestyle. Gotsha Tzitziashvily competed at the Summer Olympics in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. He held the world championship title in the 84-kilogram weight class in 2003.
Cricket
Israel became an associate member of the ICC in 1974. Israel competed in the first ICC TrophyICC Trophy
The ICC World Cup Qualifier is an international one-day cricket tournament run under the auspices of the International Cricket Council. Any Associate or Affiliate member of the ICC may attempt to qualify for the ICC Trophy by means of a system of regional qualifying events. The test-playing Full...
in 1979, failing to get past the first round. They also failed to progress beyond the first round in the 1982 tournament and 1986 tournament.
They reached the plate competition of the ICC Trophy in 1990 and 1994 and in 1996 competed in the first European Championship in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, finishing eighth in the eight team tournament.
In the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia, they faced political demonstrations throughout the tournament from the Islamic Party of Malaysia. They were the first Israeli sports team to play in the country and finished in 21st place.
In 1998, they finished ninth in the European Championship
European Championship
-List:Athletics* European Athletics ChampionshipsAustralian rules football* EU CupAuto racing* European Championship * European Formula Two Championship * European Touring Car Championship...
ahead of only Gibraltar and the following year travelled to Gibraltar to take part in a quadrangular tournament also involving France and Italy.
Israel have been playing in Division Two
Division Two
Division Two may refer to either:* Football League Two the current fourth tier of the English football league system* The Football League Second Division, the former second and later third tier of the English football league system...
of the European Championships since 2000, finishing fifth in 2000, fourth in 2002, sixth in 2004 and seventh in 2006.
In November 2007, Israel were defeated in a relegation match against Croatia, in the first international cricket game played in Israel. The loss meant that they were relegated from the 2nd European division, to the 3rd Division. In 2009 they were promoted to Second division with a win over Croatia.
Rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
is a minor sport brought to the country by British soldiers during the Mandate era. The first game post-independence was in 1951, organized by Leo Camron
Leo Camron
Leo Camron was a South African-Israeli educationalist and sportsman, from Natal particularly remembered for his English textbooks, and rugby advocacy.-Early life:...
. A wave of immigration from English speaking countries, and France, since 1967 renewed interest in the sport, particularly in areas with large English-speaking populations such as Ra'anana
Ra'anana
Ra'anana is a city in the heart of the southern Sharon Plain of the Central District of Israel with a population of 68,300, . Ra'anana is bordered by Kfar Sava on the east and Herzliya on the southwest...
and Jerusalem. A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975. Israel's first international match was away to Switzerland
Switzerland national rugby union team
The Swiss national rugby union team is a member of the FIRA - Association of European Rugby and plays in the 3A division of the European Nations Cup. Thus far Switzerland have not qualified for a Rugby World Cup.-History:...
on 25 May 1981, and ended 9-9. The Israel Union joined the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1988. Rugby union has also featured at the Maccabiah Games
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
since 1981. Israel has entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
.
American football
The center of American football in Israel is the KraftRobert Kraft
Robert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
Family Stadium in Jerusalem. Currently there are 5 leagues playing American contact football, in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem (2 teams) and Modi'in. The game is mainly played by ex-pats from America, South Africa, England and France. The largest league in 2007 was men's contact, with 57 teams competing in the annual Holyland Bowl championship. The women's league is the WAFI which has 13 teams. The Yosef Goodman High School League has 12 teams, and the Tuesday Night co-ed league has 5 teams. Some 1000 players are involved in weekly football activities.
Netball
NetballNetball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
was introduced in Israel in 1999. Today there are teams in Raanana, Modi'in, Jerusalem, Efrat. Israel has sent senior and junior representatives to international events, culminating in its first international win in Ireland in June 2008. Israel is an associate member of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) and an associate member of the Federation of European Netball Associations (FENA).
Baseball
There are around a thousand baseball players in Israel. The Israel Baseball LeagueIsrael baseball league
The Israel Baseball League was a six-team professional baseball league in Israel. The first game was played on June 24, 2007...
, managed by Larry Baras, was established in 2007. It was the first professional baseball league in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. In its first and only season it had six teams that played in three stadiums. The first and only champions were the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox
Bet Shemesh Blue Sox
The Beit Shemesh Blue Sox are an Israeli baseball team from Bet Shemesh.It is one of the inaugural teams in the Israel Baseball League. They had the best regular season record , and won the inaugural championship August 19, 2007, in Petach Tikva, shutting out Art Shamsky’s Modi’in Miracle 3-0 in...
managed by Ron Blomberg
Ron Blomberg
Ronald Mark Blomberg , nicknamed Boomer, is a former Major League Baseball designated hitter, first baseman, and right fielder...
.
Ice hockey
Ice hockey started in Israel in 1986 when the first rink opened in Kiryat Motzkin. Israel has a following of over 1,000 ice hockey players. Israel took part in the 20072007 in sports
2007 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:* February 4 – Indianapolis Colts beat the Chicago Bears 29-17 to win Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. The win was the Colts' first Super Bowl Championship since their 1970-71 team, when...
Ice Hockey Division II World Championships
Ice Hockey Division II World Championships
The IIHF World Championship Division II are an annual sports event organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation. The division championships are played in two groups....
.
Figure skating
Israel has one regulation ice rinkIce rink
An ice rink is a frozen body of water and/or hardened chemicals where people can skate or play winter sports. Besides recreational ice skating, some of its uses include ice hockey, figure skating and curling as well as exhibitions, contests and ice shows...
, located in Metulla, a city on the Lebanese
Lebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
border. Israel has been sending teams to the Winter Olympics since 1994. In 2002, Galit Chait
Galit Chait
Galit Chait is a former Israeli ice dancer with partner Sergei Sakhnovski. They competed internationally for Israel from 1995 to 2006.- Personal life :Chait was born in Israel and moved to New Jersey as a child with her parents...
and Sergei Sakhnovski
Sergei Sakhnovski
Sergei Sakhnovski is an Israeli ice dancer with partner Galit Chait. They have been competing internationally for Israel since 1996. In 2002 they were the first Israeli ice dance team to win a medal at World Championships...
finished sixth in ice dancing
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
. The Zareskis, a brother and sister ice-dancing pair, came in ninth in the 2008 world championships and first in the 2009 World University Games.
Gymnastics
Israeli gymnast Neta Rivlin won a silver medal in the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships
The 27th Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships was held in Minsk, Belarus from 25 to 29 May 2011.- Medal winners :- Team :- Hoop :Final was held on Sunday, 29 May 2011 at 13:30 local time.- Ball :...
in Minsk.
Martial arts
CapoeiraCapoeira
Capoeira is a Brazilian art form that combines elements of martial arts, sports, and music. It was created in Brazil mainly by descendants of African slaves with Brazilian native influences, probably beginning in the 16th century...
clubs operate in various locations in Israel.
Krav Maga
Krav Maga
Krav Maga is a noncompetitive eclectic self-defense system developed in Europe that involves striking techniques, wrestling and grappling. Krav Maga is known for its focus on real-world situations and extremely efficient, brutal counter-attacks...
taught to most citizens in the army, and practiced recreationaly throughout the country.
Judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
is one of the three sports in which Israeli athletes have won Olympic medals.
Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah GamesMaccabiah Games
The Maccabiah is an international Jewish athletic event similar to the Olympics held in Israel every four years under the auspices of the Maccabi Federation, affiliated with the Maccabi World Union. The Maccabiah Games is the third largest international sports competition in the world...
are an international Jewish athletic event, similar to the Olympics, held every four years in Israel. The first games were held in 1932
1932 in sports
-Alpine skiing:FIS Alpine World Ski Championships2nd FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are held at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. The events are a downhill, a slalom and a combined race in both the men's and women's categories...
.
Boycotts and violence against Israeli sportsmen
Due to the Arab–Israeli conflictArab–Israeli conflict
The Arab–Israeli conflict refers to political tensions and open hostilities between the Arab peoples and the Jewish community of the Middle East. The modern Arab-Israeli conflict began with the rise of Zionism and Arab Nationalism towards the end of the nineteenth century, and intensified with the...
, Israeli sportsmen and teams are barred from some competitions. In many worldwide competitions, such as the Olympics
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, some Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
and Asian competitors avoid competing against Israelis. Some countries even force its sportsmen not to compete against Israelis or in Israel. Mushir Salem Jawher, a Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n born marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
er, lost his Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
i citizenship after competing in the Kinneret Marathon
Tiberias Marathon
The Tiberias Marathon is an annual marathon road race held along the Sea of Galilee in Israel with a field in recent years of approximately 1000 competitors. The competition was first held in 1977 and also hosts the annual Israeli marathon national championship...
in Israel.
In a Palestinian attack
Palestinian political violence
Palestinian political violence refers to acts of violence undertaken to further the Palestinian cause. These political objectives include self-determination in and sovereignty over Palestine, the liberation of Palestine and establishment of a Palestinian state, either in place of both Israel and...
at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
in Munich, Germany, eleven members of the Israeli team were murdered
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
.
Integration of Arab citizens in sports
Despite the country's political problems, a growing number of Arab sportsmen are joining Israeli sports teams and contributing to Israel's success in the international arena, also playing in the Israel national football teamIsrael national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
. They include Rifat (Jimmy) Turk, Najwan Ghrayib
Najwan Ghrayib
Najwan Ghrayib , is a Arab-Israeli former footballer, and was recently assistant manager of his hometown club - Maccabi Ahi Nazareth...
, Walid Badir
Walid Badir
Walid Badir is an Arab Israeli football player, currently playing as captain for Hapoel Tel Aviv.-Early career:Badir was recognized early on as a valuable prospect, and played for the youth clubs Hapoel Kafr Qasim and Hapoel Petah Tikva, and later was given a spot on second teams premier league...
, Salim Toama, Abbas Suan
Abbas Suan
Abbas Suan is an Arab-Israeli footballer from Sakhnin in the Galilee. As a footballer he was considered by many as one of the best Arab-Israeli players....
and more. Another Israeli Arab, Johar Abu Lashin
Johar Abu Lashin
Johar Abu Lashin is a former lightweight and welterweight boxer, who was the first Israeli to win a world championship and was described in 2001 as "Israel's most successful boxer".-Personal life:...
, born in Nazareth
Nazareth
Nazareth is the largest city in the North District of Israel. Known as "the Arab capital of Israel," the population is made up predominantly of Palestinian Arab citizens of Israel...
, was an IBO
International Boxing Organization
The International Boxing Organization is a for-profit organization that sanctions professional boxing matches and awards world and subordinate championships.- Origins :...
Welterweight champion.
Olympic Games
Gal Fridman
Gal Fridman is an Israeli windsurfer and Olympic gold medalist.He was born in Karkur, Israel, and lives in nearby kibbutz Sdot Yam.Fridman won a bronze medal in the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics, and a gold medal in the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics...
won Israel's first Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
.
| Medal | Name | Games | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... |
Judo Judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics The Judo competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was contested in fourteen weight classes, seven each for men and women. The seven men's weight classes continued to be those first used in 1980. This was the first Olympic competition to award medals to women judoka; women competed in 1988 as a... |
Women's half middleweight | ||
| 1992 Barcelona 1992 Summer Olympics The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same... |
Judo Judo at the 1992 Summer Olympics The Judo competition at the 1992 Summer Olympics was contested in fourteen weight classes, seven each for men and women. The seven men's weight classes continued to be those first used in 1980. This was the first Olympic competition to award medals to women judoka; women competed in 1988 as a... |
Men's lightweight | ||
| 1996 Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.... |
Sailing Sailing at the 1996 Summer Olympics Sailing/Yachting is a Olympic sport starting from the Games of the 1st Olympiad . With the exception of 1904 and possible 1916 sailing was always a part of the Olympic program.... |
Men's sailboard | ||
| 2000 Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia... |
Canoeing Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics Canoeing at the 2000 Summer Olympics was held at the Sydney International Regatta Centre for the sprint events and the Whitewater Stadium in Penrith for the canoe and kayak slalom disciplines. The repechage rounds that ran from the 1960 to the 1996 Games were eliminated in the sprint events while... |
Men's K-1 500 metres | ||
| 2004 Athens 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... |
Sailing Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Agios Kosmas Olympic Sailing Centre with eleven events being contested.The events were split into four classes for men, four for women, and three mixed classes that were open to both men and women... |
Men's sailboard Sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's sailboard These are the results of the men's sailboard competition in sailing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.-Medalists:-Results:-Notes:... |
||
| 2004 Athens 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team... |
Judo Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place in the Ano Liossia Olympic Hall and featured 368 judoka competing for 14 gold medals with seven different weight categories in both the men's and women's competitions. Japan dominated the event by taking 8 gold and 2 silver medals.Gold and silver medals... |
Men's half heavyweight Judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics - Men's 100 kg These are the results of the men's 100 kg competition in judo at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens. A total of 33 men competed in this event, limited to jūdōka whose body weight was less than 100 kilograms... |
||
| 2008 Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events... |
Sailing Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics Sailing at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing was held from August 9 to 21. The competition took place in Qingdao, at Qingdao International Marina.... |
Men's sailboard |
Sports media
Sports have been a major part of Israeli broadcastingBroadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
since the early days of organized sports in the country. The media
Mass media
Mass media refers collectively to all media technologies which are intended to reach a large audience via mass communication. Broadcast media transmit their information electronically and comprise of television, film and radio, movies, CDs, DVDs and some other gadgets like cameras or video consoles...
's influence on Israeli sports has increased considerably in recent years, which is most evident in Association football and Basketball, where team budgets rely largely on payments from television networks who bought the rights to broadcast sporting events.
Television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
, radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
, newspapers and news web sites are the major channels where Israeli sport is analyzed, broadcast and discussed. Generally, Association football attracts the major attention of Israeli media, which is evident through all of the above channels.
External links
- TourTheIsrael - Israel bike racing organization
- The Israel Football Association
- Israel Basketball Association
- Sports Associations in Israel
- Sports in Israel - Photos by Lev Borodulin
- IL-Sports - Israeli sports website in English
- Sports in Israel - photos by Lev Borodulin
- Sport: Yishuv to the Present