Sports in Israel
Sports in Israel are an important part of the national culture. Sports in Israel are pursued both competitively and for leisure. Israelis engage in a wide range of athletic activities, with association football being the most popular sport. 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. Sports are very Popular
Contents |
[edit] Major sports
[edit] Association Football
Football is the most popular sport in Israel. (Kadur-regel, lit. football). The sport is under the jurisdiction of the Israel Football Association. 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 Benny Binshtock, Eli Ohana, Giora Spiegel, Ronny Rosenthal, Avi Cohen, Eyal Berkovich, Haim Revivo, Dudu Aouate and Yossi Benayoun.
[edit] 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 1977, 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.
[edit] Track and field
Track and field athletics 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).
[edit] Marathons
Long distance running is popular in Israel. The Tel Aviv Half Marathon, the Jerusalem Half Marathon and Mount Tabor Run take place annually in March.[1] Another half marathon is held annually at Ein Gedi, near the Dead Sea.[2] In 2011, Jerusalem will host Israel's first international marathon.[3]
[edit] Tennis
Highly ranked players include Shlomo Glickstein (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.
[edit] Swimming
Israel Swimming Association 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.
[edit] Handball
Israel's national handball team participated in the 2002 European Men's Handball Championship in Sweden. Local power Hapoel Rishon Lezion qualified for the quarterfinals of the EHF Champions League in 2000.
[edit] Chess
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.
[edit] Minor sports
[edit] Softball
The Israel Softball Association [4] (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.
[edit] 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 Foreman is the current World Boxing Association super welterweight champion.[5] Roman Greenberg is currently International Boxing Organization's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion.
[edit] Wrestling
Seven Israeli wrestlers will be competing at the 2010 Senior European Championship in Baku. Four are Greco-Roman wrestlers while the others are freestyle.[6] Gotsha Tzitziashvily competed at the Summer Olympics in Athens. He held the world championship title in the 84-kilogram weight class in 2003.[6]
[edit] Cricket
Israel became an associate member of the ICC in 1974. Israel competed in the first ICC Trophy 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.
[edit] Rugby
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.
[edit] American football
The center of American football in Israel is the Kraft 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.[7]
[edit] Netball
Netball was introduced in Israel in 1999. Today there are clubs in Raanana, Modi'in, Jerusalem, Ma'aleh Adumim and Tel Aviv, all of which have teams participating in the Israel National Netball League. 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).
[edit] Baseball
Baseball was first introduced into the country on July 4th, 1927, when baseball equipment was distributed at the Sephardic Orphanage in Jerusalem. The Israel Baseball League, managed by Larry Baras, was established in 2007. [8]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.
[edit] 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 2007 Ice Hockey Division II World Championships.
[edit] Figure skating
Israel has one regulation ice rink, 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.[9] 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.[9]
[edit] Gymnastics
Israeli gymnast Neta Rivlin won a silver medal in the 2011 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in Minsk.[10]
[edit] Martial arts
Capoeira clubs operate in various locations in Israel.[11] 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.
[edit] Maccabiah Games
The Maccabiah Games are an international Jewish athletic event, similar to the Olympics, held every four years in Israel. The first games were held in 1932.
[edit] Boycotts and violence against Israeli sportsmen
Due to the Arab–Israeli conflict, Israeli sportsmen and teams are barred from some competitions.[12] 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 Kenyan born marathoner, lost his Bahraini citizenship after competing in the Kinneret Marathon in Israel.[13]
In a Palestinian attack at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, eleven members of the Israeli team were murdered.
[edit] 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 team. They include Rifat (Jimmy) Turk, Najwan Ghrayib, Walid Badir , Salim Toama, Abbas Suan and more.[14] Another Israeli Arab, Johar Abu Lashin, born in Nazareth, was an IBO Welterweight champion.
[edit] Olympic Games
Israel has won seven Olympic medals. Gal Fridman won Israel's first Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
| Medal | Name | Games | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Silver |
Yael Arad | 1992 Barcelona | Judo | Women's half middleweight |
 Bronze |
Oren Smadja | 1992 Barcelona | Judo | Men's lightweight |
| Bronze |
Gal Fridman | 1996 Atlanta | Sailing | Men's sailboard |
| Bronze |
Michael Kolganov | 2000 Sydney | Canoeing | Men's K-1 500 metres |
 Gold |
Gal Fridman | 2004 Athens | Sailing | Men's sailboard |
| Bronze |
Ariel Zeevi | 2004 Athens | Judo | Men's half heavyweight |
| Bronze |
Shahar Zubari | 2008 Beijing | Sailing | Men's sailboard |
[edit] Sports media
Sports have been a major part of Israeli broadcasting 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.[citation needed]
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.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Marathons in Israel
- ^ Runners collapse near Dead Sea as temperatures hit seasonal highs
- ^ Get Ready for Jerusalem Marathon
- ^ "Softball | התאחדות הסופטבול בישראל". Israelsoftball.org. http://www.israelsoftball.org/Eng/CatPage.asp?iCat=17. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
- ^ Israel's boxing league a champ at promoting coexistence
- ^ a b Grappling with a grim reality
- ^ American football, official website
- ^ Recent History of Baseball in Israel
- ^ a b Israel’s Winter Athletes Come to U.S. Seeking Ice and Medals
- ^ Gymnast Neta Rivkin places second at European Championship
- ^ Capoeira in Israel
- ^ Sports: Israel and Europe
- ^ "Bahrain athlete loses citizenship". BBC News. 2007-01-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6238217.stm. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
- ^ Chabin, Michele (2005-06-03). "Arab players key to Israel's success". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/world/2005-06-03-arab-israel-team_x.htm. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
[edit] External links
- TourTheIsrael - Israel bike racing organization
- The Israel Football Association
- Israel Basketball Association (Hebrew)
- 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
