Games in Israel postponed by a year
The 2021 Maccabiah Games in Israel have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
IN a letter to members and supporters last week, Maccabi Australia president Jeff Sher and chairman Barry Smorgon confirmed the 2021 Maccabiah Games in Israel have been postponed by the Maccabi World Union until July 2022.
The shift is understood to avoid a clash with the postponed Olympic Games in Tokyo. More than 270 people had already nominated for the Australian team.
Maccabi Australia has suspended the team nominations process, stood down its Maccabiah organising committee until further notice, and committed to keeping the community informed.
The letter also confirmed that as a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, very difficult decisions have had to be made, including ceasing all sports club activities and Maccabi development programs for an extended period of time, reducing Maccabi state organisations to the bare minimum, and making 12 paid Maccabi Australia positions redundant, including the executive director Ryan O’Connor.
The focus of the organisation will now be on the health of its members, and keeping the community connected and informed through Maccabi Life and www.maccabiupdates.com.
“We know that the Maccabi organisation will bounce back and, with your support, will continue to remain relevant, valuable and committed to connecting the Jewish community through sport and wellbeing.”
comments