View source for 1932 Maccabiah Games

{{Short description|Multi-sport event in Mandatory Palestine}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox games
| name         = 1st Maccabiah
| logo         = 1932 Maccabiah logo.jpg
| size         = 240
| caption      =
| opening_city = [[Tel Aviv]], [[Mandatory Palestine]]
| nations      = 27
| athletes     = 390
| events       = 
| opening      = March 28, 1932
| closing      = April 2, 1932
| opened_by    = [[Meir Dizengoff]]
| stadium      = [[Maccabiah Stadium]]
| SnextS       = [[2nd Maccabiah]]
| Snext        = [[1st Winter Maccabiah]] 
}}
The '''1st Maccabiah''' (aka '''The Maccabiah'''<ref name=aura>{{cite book|title=Eizehu Gibor: Living Jewish Values|date=2011|publisher=[[Torah Aura Productions]]|isbn=9781934527245|pages=19–21|author=Torah Aura Productions|edition=illustrated}}</ref> and the '''White Horse Olympics'''<ref name=facts>{{cite book|title=1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel|date=2005|publisher=[[Jason Aronson]]|isbn=9781461627159|author=Mitchell G. Bard|author2=Moshe Schwartz}}</ref><ref name=jlib />) ({{langx|he|המכביה הראשונה}} or {{langx|he|המכביאדה}}<ref name=aura />) was the first edition of the [[Maccabiah]], which was held in [[Mandatory Palestine]] from March 28 to April 2, 1932. The games were in commemoration of the 1800th anniversary of the [[Bar Kokhba revolt]], a major rebellion by the Jews of [[Judea (Roman province)|Judaea Province]] against the [[Roman Empire]]. Despite many obstacles and setbacks, the first Maccabiah was regarded as a great success. Poland led the scoreboard, the United States was second, and Austria was third.

== History ==
[[File:PikiWiki Israel 13457 Sports in Israel.jpg|thumb|right|Jerusalem's delegation to the 1st Maccabiah.]]
{{main article|History of the Maccabiah}}
The 1st Maccabiah was the result of almost two decades of attempt by [[Yosef Yekutieli]] to allow Jews in [[Eretz Yisrael]] to participate in international athletic competitions. It wasn't until the ''Maccabi World Congress'' in 1929 that his proposal was accepted. The games officially opened on March 28, 1932.

Due to severe lack of funds, the construction of the [[Maccabiah Stadium]] did not start until a few weeks prior to the opening ceremony.<ref name=telaviv /> The land of the stadium was allocated by the British Government which loaned it to [[Maccabi World Union|Maccabi]].<ref name=telaviv /> The stadium was completed on the night before the opening ceremony.

In the days leading to the opening ceremony, [[Tel Aviv]] faced a large shortage of hotel rooms;<ref name=telaviv>{{cite news|script-title=he:נפתחה המכביה הראשונה|trans-title=The first Maccabiah opened|url=http://tel-aviv.millenium.org.il/NR/exeres/7E162CE1-1B17-465B-8602-A4E38C38195C,frameless.htm?NRMODE=Published|accessdate=23 February 2014|date=April 29, 1932|language=Hebrew}}</ref> the residents of Tel Aviv were asked to host guests in their own homes<ref name=mac /> following one of the following recommendation: full accommodations, [[bed & breakfast]], or bed only.<ref name=spiegel /> Hosts also helped out by taking their guests to their events.<ref name=spiegel>{{cite book|title=Embodying Hebrew Culture: Aesthetics, Athletics, and Dance in the Jewish Community of Mandate Palestine|date=2013|publisher=[[Wayne State University Press]]|isbn=9780814336373|author=Nina S. Spiegel}}</ref> 1,000s flowed to the Maccabiah: many via cars, bikes, and on foot. Many of the spectators came wearing white suits and blue hats - as one of the largest [[Zionist]] events in history.<ref name=mac /> A large [[Ball (dance)|ball]] was held in [[Beit Ha'Am]] on Ben Yehuda Street in Tel Aviv.<ref name=mac />

== Opening ceremony ==

[[File:1st Maccabiah.jpg|thumb|250px|Opening ceremony]]
The first Maccabiah was attended by 390 athletes from 27 countries. The municipality of Tel Aviv decorated the streets with greenery and flowers. The city was coated with blue and white [[banners]] of the Maccabiah.<ref name=mac>{{cite web|title=The First Maccabiah|url=http://lib.cet.ac.il/pages/item.asp?item=13087|publisher=The Virtual Library of the Center for Educational Technology|accessdate=24 February 2014}}</ref> The parade started off with the participants at the [[Herzliya Gymnasium]] marching toward the stadium north of the city.<ref name=telaviv /> At the stadium, they were greeted by the [[High Commissioners for Palestine and Transjordan|High Commissioner]] Sir [[Arthur Grenfell Wauchope]], who approved the games.<ref name=telaviv /> The parade was led by a convoy of horse riders, including Avraham Shapira. Among those riders was [[Tel Aviv]]'s mayor, [[Meir Dizengoff]], who rode on a distinct white horse.<ref name=jlib>{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/Maccabiah.html|title=The Maccabiah Games|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref><ref name=mac /> 20,000 spectators were at the opening ceremony. The Maccabiah later became known as the ''White Horse Olympics''.<ref name=facts /><ref name=jlib />

Following the parade of nations, a large display of athletics took place with over 2,500 athletes taking part.<ref name=jlib /> A release of 120 white [[pigeons]] was made to honor the [[Twelve Tribes of Israel]].<ref>{{cite web|title=History - Maccabiah|url=http://www.maccabiah.com/know-us-history|publisher=Maccabiah|accessdate=24 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228204921/http://www.maccabiah.com/know-us-history|archive-date=2014-12-28|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=History of the games|url=http://www.israella.org/index.php/he/latest-news/item/19th-maccabiah-opens-in-jerusalem|publisher=Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles|accessdate=24 February 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140224012926/http://www.israella.org/index.php/he/latest-news/item/19th-maccabiah-opens-in-jerusalem|archive-date=2014-02-24|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Notable competitors ==

[[File:Shot putting at the 1st Maccabiah.jpg|thumb|right|A shot putter in action during the 1st Maccabiah]]

In wrestling, Olympic silver medalist [[Abraham Kurland]] of Denmark won a gold medal in the lightweight category.<ref name="autoasdf"/> Olympic bronze medalist [[Nickolaus Hirschl]] of Austria won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling in the heavyweight category.<ref name="autoasdf"/>

In swimming, Olympian [[Pavol Steiner]] of Czechoslovakia competed, and won three gold medals.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1932/04/04/01/article/34|title=⁨1 התח רו יות השח יר !של המכביד .! בחיפה ⁩ &mdash; ⁨⁨דאר היום⁩ 4 אפריל 1932⁩ &mdash; הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים|website=www.nli.org.il}}</ref><ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nli.org.il/he/newspapers/dhy/1935/04/02/01/article/81|title=⁨המנצחים נמכרה הראשונה והישגיהם ⁩ &mdash; ⁨⁨דאר היום⁩ 2 אפריל 1935⁩ &mdash; הספרייה הלאומית של ישראל │ עיתונים|website=www.nli.org.il}}</ref> He won the 100m freestyle (breaking the record from Czechoslovakia), the 3x100m medley relay, and the 4x200m medley relay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tel-aviv.gov.il/history/Pages/HomePage.aspx?NRMODE=Published|title=הארכיון העירוני|website=www.tel-aviv.gov.il}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto2"/> Swimmer and future Olympic water polo player [[Alfred Guth]] from Austria won a gold medal in the 1,500m freestyle, a silver medal in the 400m freestyle, and a silver medal as part of Team Austria in the 4x200m freestyle, and broke an Austrian record.<ref name="autoasdf">{{Cite web|url=https://sport-record.de/organizations/maccabiah.html|title=Maccabiah Games before World War II|website=sport-record.de}}</ref><ref name=telaviv /> Olympic swimmer [[Fritzi Löwy]] of Austria won gold medals in the women's [[100m freestyle]] and 300m freestyle, and a silver medal in the 200m breaststroke.<ref name="autoasdf"/> Austrian Olympic swimmer [[Hedy Bienenfeld]] won gold medals in the 100m backstroke, 200m breaststroke, and 4x100 m freestyle, a silver medal in the 100m freestyle, and the bronze medal in the 300m freestyle.<ref name="autoasdf"/><ref>Ron Kaplan (2015). [https://books.google.com/books?id=Qy2CDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Heidi+Wertheimer+%22&pg=PT35 ''The Jewish Olympics; The History of the Maccabiah Games'']</ref>

Egyptian Olympic fencer [[Saul Moyal]] won gold medals in all three weapons.<ref name="autoasdf"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeout.com/israel/sports-and-fitness/make-way-for-maccabiah-an-85-year-journey-through-the-jewish-olympics|title=Make way for Maccabiah: an 85-year journey through the 'Jewish Olympics'|publisher=}}</ref>  German Olympic fencer [[Theodor Fischer (fencer)|Theodor Fischer]] won a silver medal in men's foil, and a bronze medal in épée.<ref name="autoasdf"/>

[[Ladislav Hecht]] of Czechoslovakia, who ranked as high as #6 in the world in tennis, won the gold medal in singles in tennis.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KdJtAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Ladislav+Hecht%22+tennis+%22jewish%22|isbn = 9780827602304|title= The Jews of Czechoslovakia: Historical Studies and Surveys|year = 1971|publisher= Jewish Publication Society of America}}</ref>

The United States won 12 gold medals in [[track & field]], four alone won by Harry Schneider, a former [[New York University]] football and track player, breaking the previous Olympic record in [[discus throw]].<ref name="mac" /><ref name=jc2 /> In all three events he beat Dave Adelman, former [[Georgetown University]] athlete, who took three second places.<ref name=jc2 />

== Sports ==
[[File:A sprinter during the 1st Maccabiah.jpg|thumb|left|A sprinter at the 1st Maccabiah]]

Events in the first Maccabiah included:

{|
|valign=top|
* [[File:Athletics pictogram.svg|25px]]Athletics<ref name="mac" />
* [[File:Gymnastics pictogram.svg|25px]]Gymnastics<ref name="mac" />
* [[File:Swimming pictogram.svg|25px]]Swimming<ref name="mac" />
* [[File:Football pictogram.svg|25px]][[Football at the 1932 Maccabiah Games|Football]]<ref name="mac" />
* [[File:Volleyball pictogram.svg|25px]]Volleyball<ref name="mac" />
* [[File:Wrestling pictogram.svg|25px]]Wrestling<ref name="mac" />
|valign=top|
* [[File:Tug of war pictogram.svg|25px]]Track and Field<ref name="mac" />
:* Discus throw<ref name=jc2 />
:* Shot put <ref name=jc2 />
:* Javelin throw <ref name=jc2 />
:* High jump<ref name=jc2 />
:* Long jump<ref name=jc2 />
|valign=top|
* [[File:Cycling pictogram.svg|25px]]Cycling
* [[File:Fencing pictogram.svg|25px]]Fencing<ref name="mac" />
* [[File:Triathlon pictogram.svg|25px]]Triathlon<ref name=jc2 />
* [[File:Water polo pictogram.svg|25px]]Water Polo<ref name=h4>{{cite news|last=Aderet|first=Ofer|title=Eye on the Maccabiah: An exhibit of Jewish muscle|url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/.premium-1.531392|accessdate=24 February 2014|newspaper=Haaretz|date=June 23, 2013}}</ref> 
* Handball  
|}

The first Maccabiah hosted a large number of competitions despite the large of venues and equipments. In 1932 [[Tel Aviv]] still did not have any swimming pools; the swimming competitions and the [[water polo]] games at took place in the [[Port of Haifa]] in improvised lanes.<ref>{{cite web|last=רועי|first=נתן|title=Little-known Maccabiah moments - revealed!|url=http://www.jewishagency.org/blog/1/article/1706|publisher=The Jewish Federations of North America|accessdate=24 February 2014|date=August 26, 2013}}</ref> Spectators watched the swimming competitions from floating rafts on the water.<ref name=h4 /> There was no serviceable gymnastic hall; competitions were held on a wooden platform in Rina Garden located on Shalom Aleichem Street in Tel Aviv.<ref name=h4 /> The 5,000 and 10,000 meter races took place on the streets of Tel Aviv - a race that took place on mostly unpaved and sandy roads.

==Participating communities==
[[File:1st Maccabiah, Tel Aviv.jpg|thumb|right|The parade in Tel Aviv during the 1st Maccabiah]]
390 athletes from 27 countries participated (not all participated in the games), including over 69<ref name=mac /> Jewish athletes from [[Arab]] countries such as [[Syria]], [[Lebanon]] and [[Egypt]] - including number of [[Muslim]] boxers from Egypt participated.<ref name=mac /> A number of individual athletes from "[[B'nai B'rith]]" also participated (representing no specific country). Also participating were official British soldiers and policemen.<ref name=telaviv /> In the first two Maccabiot, only official members of [[Maccabi World Union|Maccabi]] were allowed to participate.<ref name=mac />

The number in parentheses indicates the number of athletes from that delegation.
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      DO NOT TOUCH THIS LIST BEFORE ASKING IN THE TALK PAGE.
      (Many of the news that reported 14 or 18 countries ONLY
       counted those in the parade of nations, the numbers of
       actual participating countries were 25-27.)

      Reliable Source: 
                        - Ah [[Davar]]
                        - [[Doar HaYom]]
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{{clear}}
{{Div col|colwidth=13em}} 
* {{flag|Austria}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar>[[Davar]] from March 28, 1932; [[Doar HaYom]] March 29, 1932</ref>
* {{flag|Australia|civil}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Bulgaria}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Belgium}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* [[Image:Canadian_Red_Ensign_1921-1957.svg|25px]] [[Canada]]<ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Czechoslovakia}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Danzig}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Denmark}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Estonia}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Egypt|1922}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|British Mandate for Palestine|name=Eretz Yisrael}}<ref name=davar />
* {{flag|France}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flagicon|Germany|Weimar}} [[Weimar Republic|Germany]]<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Greece|old}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Hungary|1920}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Latvia}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Lebanon|1920}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Lithuania}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Netherlands}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Poland}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Romania}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Syria|1932}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Switzerland}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|Tunisia}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|United Kingdom}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
* {{flag|United States|1912}} <ref name=davar /><small>(15)</small><ref name=jc2>{{cite news|title=Schneider, Maccabee Track Star Back From Olympics Bronzed by his sojourn in Palestine|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/49948769/|accessdate=24 February 2014|newspaper=[[The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle]]|date=May 6, 1932}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Kingdom of Yugoslavia}}<ref name=telaviv /><ref name=davar />
{{div col end}}

==Medal count==

{{commons category}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Medal count by country<ref name="autoasdf" />
!Rank
!Country
!Points
|-
|1
|{{flag|Poland}}
|368
|-
|2
|{{flag|United States}}
|285
|-
|3
|{{flag|Austria}}
|254
|-
|4
|{{flag|Mandatory Palestine|name=Eretz Yisrael}}
|222
|-
|5
|{{flag|Czechoslovakia}}
|210
|-
|6
|{{flag|Egypt}}
|122
|-
|7
|{{flag|Germany}}
|120
|-
|8
|{{flag|Denmark}}
|44
|-
|9
|{{flag|United Kingdom|name=Great Britain}}
|20
|-
|10
|{{flag|Romania}}
|14
|-
|11
|{{flag|Yugoslavia}}
|9
|-
|12
|{{flag|Syria}}
|6
|-
|13
|{{flag|Greece}}
|5
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Maccabiah Games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1932 Maccabiah Games}}
[[Category:Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:1932 in multi-sport events|Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:1932 in Mandatory Palestine|Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:March 1932 in sports]]
[[Category:April 1932 in sports]]
[[Category:20th century in Tel Aviv]]
[[Category:March 1932 in Asia]]
[[Category:April 1932 in Asia]]