View source for 1981 Maccabiah Games

{{Short description|11th Edition of Maccabiah Games}}

{{Infobox games
| name               = 11th Maccabiah
| logo               = 1981 Maccabiah logo.jpg
| size               = 240
| caption            =
| host_city          = [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]]
| nations            = 35<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/07/sports/11th-maccabiah-games-begin.html|title=11th Maccabiah Games Begin |author=<!--Not stated-->|date=July 7, 1981|via=NYTimes.com}}</ref>
| athletes           = 3,500<ref name="auto1"/>
| events             = 31 sports<ref name="auto1"/>
| opening            = July 7, 1981<ref name="auto1"/>
| closing            = July 16, 1981, in Jerusalem; Israeli President [[Yitzhak Navon]]<ref name="auto1"/>
| opened_by          = Torch lit by [[Tal Brody]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://talbrody.co.il/high.html|title=Israel Highlights|date=December 11, 2010|access-date=June 15, 2017|archive-date=December 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211134636/http://talbrody.co.il/high.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>
| stadium            = [[Ramat Gan Stadium]]
| debuting_countries = {{Flag|Bermuda}} <br /> {{Flag|Puerto Rico|1952}} <br /> {{Flag|New Zealand}}
| previous           = [[10th Maccabiah]]
| next               = [[12th Maccabiah]] 
}}
The '''11th [[Maccabiah Games]]''' brought 3,450 athletes to [[Israel]] from 35 nations.<ref name="auto1"/> The Opening Ceremony was held on July 7, 1981, before a crowd of 53,000 and Israeli Prime Minister [[Menachem Begin]] in [[Ramat Gan Stadium]], with 3,500 Jewish athletes parading past him.<ref name="auto1"/> Representative [[Jack Kemp]] (R; New York) and a supporter of Israel, marched with the United States team.<ref name="auto1"/> Israel won the most medals (199), with 65 gold. The United States won 188 medals, 85 gold. South Africa, Britain, and Canada had the next-most total medals.

The 31-sports menu included [[rugby union]],<ref name=Completerugby>Bath, Richard (ed.) ''The Complete Book of Rugby'' (Seven Oaks Ltd, 1997 {{ISBN|1-86200-013-1}}), p.68</ref> [[sailing (sport)|sailing]] and [[softball]] for the first time. New facilities for squash, wrestling, karate, and judo were introduced.

==History==
The Maccabiah Games were first held in [[1932 Maccabiah Games|1932]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecjn.ca/perspectives/20th-maccabiah-games-pt-1/|title=A brief history of the Maccabiah Games|date=June 19, 2017|website=The Canadian Jewish News}}</ref> In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the [[International Olympic Committee]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nTHRB6Fj_4gC&dq=maccabiah+games+olympics+regional+sport+event&pg=PA56|title=Gender Politics and the Olympic Industry|author=Helen Jefferson Lenskyj|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan|year=2012|isbn=9781137291158}}</ref><ref name=bard>Mitchell G. Bard and Moshe Schwartz (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=PeJFAAAAQBAJ&dq=Bard+and+Schwartz+maccabiah&pg=PA85 ''1001 Facts Everyone Should Know about Israel''] p. 84.</ref><ref name=MaccabiAu>{{cite web|title=History of the Maccabiah Games|url=http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm|publisher=Maccabi Australia|access-date=|archive-date=2018-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913002319/http://www.maccabi.com.au/Maccabiah/Page/1591/Maccabiah-Games-History/History-of-the-Maccabiah-Games.cfm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Among other Olympic and world champions, swimmer [[Mark Spitz]] won 10 Maccabiah gold medals before earning his first of nine Olympic gold medals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://forward.com/news/510411/at-the-maccabiah-300-jewish-american-athletes-become-bar-and-bat-mitzvah/|title=At Maccabiah Games, 300 Jewish American athletes become bar and bat mitzvah|date=July 14, 2022|website=The Forward}}</ref>

==Notable competitors==
[[File:Flickr - Government Press Office (GPO) - Israeli High Jumping Champion Gideon Harmat.jpg|right|thumb|220px|Israeli high jumping champion Gideon Harmat at the Games.]]
In gymnastics, American [[Mitch Gaylord]] won 6 [[gold medals]]; he later went on to win [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold. American Olympian [[Abie Grossfeld]] was Team USA's coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/grossfeld-abraham-israel|title=Grossfeld, Abraham Israel|website=encyclopedia.com}}</ref>

American tennis players [[Brad Gilbert]] (in doubles, with [[Jon Levine (tennis)|Jon Levine]], over fellow Americans [[Rick Meyer]] and Paul Bernstein), [[Andrea Leand]], and [[Jeff Klaparda]] earned gold medals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19810716&id=tPgzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WCMIAAAAIBAJ&pg=2816,232842&hl=en|title=U.S. cage squad tops Israel, 91–71|date=July 16, 1981|work=[[Bangor Daily News]]|page=22|access-date=3 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.maccabiusa.com/history.htm|title=Maccabi USA: History|date=November 16, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116052744/http://www.maccabiusa.com/history.htm |archive-date=2007-11-16 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/sports/us-five-captures-maccabiah-crown.html|title=U.S. Five Captures Maccabiah Crown|newspaper=The New York Times |date=July 16, 1981}}</ref>  [[Justin Gimelstob]] was an assistant coach of Team USA's tennis squad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/05/sports/an-athlete-tests-the-scholarship-system.html|title=AN ATHLETE TESTS THE SCHOLARSHIP SYSTEM|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=July 5, 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Israeli [[Shlomo Glickstein]], who carried the Maccabiah torch into the stadium for the opening ceremony, won the men's singles in tennis (defeating Brad Gilbert), the first Israeli to win a Maccabiah tennis championship.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/17/sports/maccabiah-games-end-israel-s-199-medals-lead.html|title=MACCABIAH GAMES END; ISRAEL'S 199 MEDALS LEAD|date=July 17, 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref> Americans [[Dana Gilbert]] and [[Donna Rubin]] won the women's doubles.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/sports/us-five-captures-maccabiah-crown.html|title=U.S. Five Captures Maccabiah Crown|date=July 16, 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

In basketball, [[David Blatt]], [[Danny Schayes]] (the first round draft pick of the NBA's [[Utah Jazz]]; carried the US flag in the opening ceremony), [[Al Walker]], and [[Willie Sims (basketball)|Willie Sims]] won a gold medal with Team USA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/05/nyregion/sports-coach-set-for-israeli-games.html|title=Sports; COACH SET FOR ISRAELI GAMES|first=Esther|last=Blaustein|date=July 5, 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/06/23/sports/basketball-talent-on-stage-at-xavier-xavier-provides-a-basketball-showcase.html|title=Basketball Talent On Stage at Xavier; Xavier Provides a Basketball Showcase|first=Sam|last=Goldaper|date=June 23, 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://maccabiusa.com/danny-schayes-appointed-as-a-member-of-the-basketball-staff-for-the-2018-international-maccabi-youth-games/|title=Danny Schayes Appointed As A Member of the Basketball Staff For The 2018 International Maccabi Youth Games}}</ref>

American fencers [[Paul Friedberg]] won a gold medal for the US in saber, [[Peter Schifrin]] won a silver medal in épée, and  [[Elaine Cheris]] won an individual silver medal and a team gold medal in foil. British sabre fencer [[Paul Klenerman]], who three years later fenced in the Olympics, also medaled.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19840829-01.1.2|title=Jewish Post|date= 29 August 1984|website=library.in.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MtNjAAAAIAAJ&q=Paul+Klenerman+jewish|title=Jewish Life|date=July 30, 1982|publisher=Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America|via=Google Books}}</ref> Canadian future Olympian [[Shelley Steiner]] won a gold medal.<ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.lib.sfu.ca/cjn2-28862/page-6|title=August 13, 1981, page 6|work= The Canadian Jewish News}}</ref>

In track and field, [[James Espir]] of [[Great Britain]], who earlier that year had run a mile in 3 minutes 56.7 seconds, thereby becoming the fastest [[Jew]]ish miler ever, won the 1500 metres and 5000 metres gold medals on successive days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/16/sports/us-five-captures-maccabiah-crown.html|title=U.S. Five Captures Maccabiah Crown|date=16 July 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/15/Track-and-Field-Results-Maccabiah-Jones-At-Tel-Aviv-Israel-July-15/7513364017600/|title=Track and Field Results, Maccabiah Jones At Tel Aviv, Israel, July 15|website=UPI}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/?a=d&d=JPOST19810731-01.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------|title= 31 July 1981|website=Jewish Post}}</ref>  [[Maya Kalle-Bentzur]] of Israel won the gold medal in the women's [[long jump]], and Israeli future Olympian [[Yehuda Zadok]] won the gold medal in the 10,000 m race.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/13/Track-and-Field-Results-Macabiah-James-At-Tel-Aviv-July-13/3259363844800/|title=Track and Field Results Maccabiah Games at Tel Aviv, July 13|publisher=UPI}}</ref> [[Boris Djerassi]] of the United States won a gold medal in the hammer throw.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/15/sports/us-takes-3-golds-soccer-team-in-final.html|title=U.S. Takes 3 Golds; Soccer Team in Final|date=July 15, 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Dave Edge]] of Canada, a long-distance runner who later competed in two Olympics, won a silver medal in the 10,000 m and a bronze medal in the mini-marathon.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web |title=1981 Team Canada Delegation |url=https://www.maccabicanada.com/1981-maccabiah-delegation |website=Maccabi Canada |access-date=30 September 2022}}</ref> Canadian [[Gordon Orlikow]], who later was a bronze medalist in the decathlon at the Pan American Games, won a bronze medal in the [[decathlon]] and a silver medal in the [[110 m hurdles]].<ref name="auto3"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/13/Track-and-Field-Results-Macabiah-James-At-Tel-Aviv-July-13/3259363844800/|title=Track and Field Results Macabiah James At Tel Aviv, July 13|website=UPI|date=July 13, 1981}}</ref>

Swimming for Israel at the age of 14, Israeli future Olympian [[Hadar Rubinstein]] won gold medals in the women's 100 m butterfly, and in the women's 200 m butterfly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/09/The-United-States-swimmers-engaged-the-suprising-Israeli-squad/5704363499200/|title=The United States swimmers engaged the surprising Israeli squad...|publisher=UPI}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/07/08/United-States-athletes-hoped-to-increase-their-gold-medal-catch/8119363412800/|title=United States athletes hoped to increase their gold-medal catch...|publisher=UPI}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/17/sports/maccabiah-games-end-israel-s-199-medals-lead.html|title=ISRAEL'S 199 MEDALS LEAD|date=17 July 1981|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=JPOST19810731-01.1.6|title= 31 July 1981|work=Jewish Post}}</ref> In swimming Lior Birkan won 3 gold and 2 silver medals.  Mexican [[Helen Plaschinski]] won gold medals in swimming in the 100 and 200 m freestyle.<ref name="auto"/>

[[Mike Jeffries (soccer)|Mike Jeffries]] and [[Seth Roland]] represented the United States in soccer, winning a silver medal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maccabiusa.com/component/content/article/22/31-alumni-news.html |title=Alumni News |publisher=Maccabi USA |access-date=9 December 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714012212/http://www.maccabiusa.com/component/content/article/22/31-alumni-news.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref><ref name="auto2"/> [[Eli Ohana]] and [[Rafi Cohen (footballer, born 1965)|Rafi Cohen]] represented Israel, winning a bronze medal.

In golf, American [[Corey Pavin]] won two gold medals.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hohspDWqzjwC&pg=PA83 |title=One thousand one facts everyone should know about Israel |year=2005 |first1=Mitchell Geoffrey |last1=Bard |first2=Moshe |last2=Schwartz |isbn=9780742543584 |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Goldberg |first=Dan |url=http://www.haaretz.com/news/time-to-move-on-1.279840 |title='Time to move on' |work=Haaretz |date=March 11, 2011 |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=K_xKAAAAIBAJ&sjid=OyINAAAAIBAJ&pg=6657,5048468&dq=corey-pavin+jewish&hl=en |title=Pavin Invited to Masters |newspaper=The Press-Courier |date=February 23, 1982 |first=Rich |last=Romine |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/99202382.html?dids=99202382:99202382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+29%2C+1989&author=By+YORAM+KESSEL&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=ARGENTINE+GOLFERS+SIGN+UP+AT+THE+ELEVENTH+HOUR&pqatl=google |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106090744/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/jpost/access/99202382.html?dids=99202382:99202382&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+29,+1989&author=By+YORAM+KESSEL&pub=Jerusalem+Post&desc=ARGENTINE+GOLFERS+SIGN+UP+AT+THE+ELEVENTH+HOUR&pqatl=google |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |title=Argentine Golfers Sign Up At The Eleventh Hour |newspaper=The Jerusalem Post |date= June 29, 1989 |first=Yoram |last=Kessel |access-date=April 4, 2011}}</ref>

[[Mark Berger (judoka)|Mark Berger]], who three years later was to go on to win a silver medal in the Olympics, won a gold medal in wrestling, and a silver medal in judo.<ref name="auto4"/><ref name="auto5"/> Canadian future Olympian [[Garry Kallos]] won two gold medals in wrestling, as did Canadian Olympian [[Howard Stupp]].<ref name="auto5"/>

In cricket, [[Alan Ezekowitz]] competed for England.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/stream/TheJerusalemPost1981IsraelEnglish/Jul%2019%201981%2C%20The%20Jerusalem%20Post%20Magazine%2C%20%231081%2C%20Israel%20%28en%29_djvu.txt|title=Full text of "The Jerusalem Post Magazine, 1981, Israel, English"}}</ref>

==Participating communities==
A total of 35 nations participated, in 31 sports, at 58 locations throughout Israel.<ref name="auto1"/><ref name="auto3"/> Israel won the most medals (199), with 65 gold.<ref name="auto2"/> The United States won 188 medals, 85 gold.<ref name="auto2"/> South Africa, Britain, and Canada had the next-most total medals.<ref name="auto3"/>

The number in parentheses indicates the number of participants that community contributed.
{{Div col|colwidth=13em}}
* {{Flag|Argentina}}
* {{Flag|Australia}}
* {{Flag|Austria}}
* {{Flag|Belgium}}
* {{Flag|Bermuda}}
* {{Flag|Brazil}}
* {{Flag|Canada}} (110)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.maccabicanada.com/about-us/history-and-milestones/11th-maccabiah-1981|title=11th Maccabiah 1981|website=Maccabi Canada}}</ref>
* {{Flag|Colombia}}
* {{Flag|Chile}}
* {{Flag|Denmark}}
* {{Flag|Ecuador}}
* {{Flag|Finland}}
* {{Flag|Great Britain}}
* {{Flag|Greece}}
* {{Flag|Guam}}
* {{Flag|India}}
* {{Flag|Israel}} (largest delegation)
* {{Flag|Italy}}
* {{Flag|Mexico}}
* {{Flag|Netherlands}}
* {{Flag|New Zealand}}
* {{Flag|Peru}}
* {{Flag|Puerto Rico|1952}}
* {{Flag|Republic of Ireland}}
* {{Flag|Singapore}}
* {{flag|South Africa|1928}}
* {{Flag|Spain}}
* {{Flag|Sweden}}
* {{Flag|Switzerland}}
* {{Flag|Uruguay}}
* {{Flag|United States}} (372; 2nd-largest delegation)<ref name="auto1"/>
* {{Flag|US Virgin Islands}}
* {{Flag|Venezuela}}
* {{Flag|West Germany}}
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.jewishsports.net/the_maccabiah_games.htm Summaries of each of the Games]

{{Maccabiah Games}}

[[Category:1981 Maccabiah Games| ]]
[[Category:1981 in multi-sport events|Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:1981 in Israeli sport|Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:Maccabiah Games]]
[[Category:1980s in Tel Aviv]]