The Baltimore version of the Jewish Community Center Maccabi Games begins tonight at 7 with opening ceremonies at Baltimore Arena.
A total of 1,934 athletes, ages 13 to 16 from six countries and the United States, will participate in four days of competitions in 12 sports at nine venues around the Baltimore area starting tomorrow at 8 a.m.
Contingents of 17 athletes from Australia, 20 from Poland, 24 from Israel, 39 from Mexico and 46 from Venezuela will join with the Americans in basketball, baseball, bowling, golf, in-line hockey, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and table tennis.
Although the games stress that participation is for anyone who wants to compete, noted athletes such as Mark Spitz and Lenny Krayzelburg (swimming), Mitch Gaylord (gymnastics), Ernie Grunfeld and Danny Schayes (basketball), and Brad Gilbert and Dick Savitt (tennis) have participated since the first North American JCC Maccabi Games were held in 1982.
As a host community, Baltimore has 420 athletes competing. The next largest group of participants is 175 teens from Houston.
A parade of delegations will march into Baltimore Arena to the cheers of family and friends to begin the event tonight. Music, dance, drama and lights will set the tone for the days of competition ahead. A Maccabi flame will be lighted to signal that the competition can begin.
The Maccabi Games are not limited to sports competitions, but will include afternoon activities that teach about Jewish and Israeli culture, evening social activities including barbecues, Israeli night, amusement parks, zoos, host family night, parties and dances to encourage socializing among the athletes.
All athletes will also participate Wednesday in the Day of Caring/Day of Sharing program in which they do hands-on community service projects that might involve working with special needs children, serving meals at a homeless shelter or cleaning up an inner city park.
The purpose of the games is to contribute to the development of Jewish identification and the opportunity for bonding with other teen-agers worldwide.
Closing ceremonies will take place Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Towson Center.
Competition venues
Baseball: Ridgley Middle School, Towson Center, Orchard Hills
Basketball (boys and girls): Towson Center, Park School
Bowling: Timonium AMF
Golf: Bonnie View Country Club, Woodholme Country Club
In-line hockey: Freestate Indoor Hockey Center
Softball: Orchard Hills, Towson Center
Soccer (boys): Towson Center, Burdick Hall at Towson University
Soccer (girls): Goucher College, Burdick Hall, Towson Center
Swimming: Burdick Hall
Table tennis: Student Union, Towson University
Tennis: Towson Center, Goucher College
At a glance
What: Jewish Community Center Maccabi Games
When:Today through Thursday
Where:Nine venues in Baltimore area
Opening ceremonies:Tonight, 7, Baltimore Arena
Closing ceremonies:Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Towson Center