The Maccabi VAC, since 1906, has been an integral part in providing a fun, safe space, as well as many different kinds of sports for the Jewish youths of Hungary. The club’s main goal is to help season Hungarian amateur and professional athletes. We join together the representation of Hungary with the Jewish athletes living in Hungary and those also living in the diaspora.
Hungary’s single Jewish sport club find is very important to keep alive regular exercise and healthy lifestyles in Hungary’s Jewish community.
Other than sports, the Maccabi VAC also organises many cultural and educational programs.
The Maccabi VAC is the only group to guarantee Hungarian athletes a place in the Maccabi European and World games.
The Maccabi VAC is considered one of many European Jewish sporting groups, which is headed by the Maccabi World Union. This group envelopes 60 countries, and more than 450,000 athletes.
Each region in the World Union has its own confederation, hence our European Maccabi Confederation.
The 19th. Maccabi World Games will be held in Israel from July 18-30, 2013.
The Maccabi world games is the world’s larges Jewish event, with more than 10,000 participants every 4 years.
The games are considered the 4th largest sporting event in the world.
74 Hungarian athletes, coaches and leaders travelled to Israel to represent the Maccabi VAC and all Hungarian Jews in the 19th Maccabi World Games.
The Maccabi VAC has been taking part in the games since 1989. 64 athletes and many leaders traveled to Israel to meet with more than 9,000 other Jewish athletes coming from 70 different countries.
The Maccabi participants, men and women, children and adults, amateurs and professionals all played together in many different sports in many different cities.
The Maccabiah is more than a competition!
Sport and competing is an important part in a Jewish athlete’s life, through which they can get close to the community and Jewish’s life’s different aspects. The Maccabiah tries to help and brighten the Jewish identity through sports.
The Hungarian Delegation is proud to report the following:
-34 people who have never been to Israel, the third generation of holocaust survivors visited Israel
-many participants who, for the first time, met with other Jewish communities
-18 Junior competitors took part – the most ever from the Hungarian Delegation
-One paralympian also took part from the Hungarian Delegation
-22 female athletes competed for the Hungarian team.
This Hungarian delegation was the most successful and large delegation in Hungarian Maccabi history. The Hungarian athletes won 20 medals and 13th place overall.
Gold:
S. KOVÁCS ÁDÁM – Karate
KUNOS ZSUZSA – Karate
ROMHÁNYI ESZTER – Gymnastics
FEKETE TIBOR – Wrestling
Silver:
BECSEY JÁNOS – Para swiming
SINGER MARTIN – Fencing
BOROS ZSOFI – Triathlon
ROMHÁNYI ESZTER – Gymnastics
LAKOS BORCSA – Track and Field
Bronze:
BECSEY JÁNOS – Para swiming
SZILÁGYI GÁBOR – Swiming
ROMHÁNYI ESZTER – Gymnastics
BODY BENJÁMIN – Fencing
GULYÁS ÁDÁM, RIZMAYER NORBERT, MURINAI DÁNIEL – Taekwondo
KIS BIANKA, BODNÁR ROBIN, – Riding sport – Dressage
MEN and WOMEN – Waterpolo Team
42 athletes returned home with medals in their hands!
Other than the games, the athletes had a chance to explore Israel, meet international Jewish athletes, and had a close look into the country’s rich culture and beauty. In addition, there were also many concerts and cultural events all over the country.
Upon returning home, full of energy and motivation, the athletes dutifully continued their trainings.
The Israeli trip meant much more to the athletes than just a competition, it was a chance to familiarise themselves with Israel’s culture and their future.
The Maccabi VAC is certain that sports give young Jews a strong connection to our Jewish culture.
All athletes who take part now on will become an ambassador to the Maccabi participants, the Jewish sports and the Maccabi World Community!
