Israel and Olympism The Olympic Committee strives to help young Israelis practise sport, and this we do with all the necessary care and attention. We select the best of them to guide and give them special training in order to form a nucleus of young sportsmen capable of contributing to the development of sport in Israel. Haïm Glovinsky Secretary General ISRAEL 89,359 sq. km. 3,400,000 inhabitants (approx.) Role of OCI To further the ideas for which the Olympic Games were founded and for which they are held. To co-ordinate the principles of the Olympic Committee of Israel with the principles of the International Olympic Committee. To encourage public interest in the Olympic Games and to enhance the aims and ideals of the international Olympic movement. To assure the participation of Israel s sportsmen in the Olympic Games and in regional games. To develop and further amateur sport in Israel, in co-operation with similar bodies in other countries. Creation OLYMPIC COMITTEE OF ISRAEL (OCI) Recognised by the IOC in 1952. President in office : Isaac Ofek *. Secretary General in office : Haïm Glovinsky *. Address : 6, Ha arbaa Street, Tel Aviv 64739. Telephone : 03-267359. Cable : ISOLYMPIC TEL-AVIV. * See biographical notes. An Olympic Committee was set up in 1933. Recognition by the International Olympic Committee was not obtained in time for the 1948 Olympic Games, however this recognition was granted in 1952, enabling Israeli athletes to compete at Helsinki the same year. Development Since its first participation in 1952 in the athletics, basketball, swimming and shooting events, the OCI expanded its activities in the able hands of such 538
Isaac Ofek Joseph lnbar The purpose of the committee was to deal with youngsters between the ages of 10 and 14 and to train them as future Olympic champions. Nobody can forget the participation of Israel in the Games of the XXth Olympiad and the terrible tragedy which struck its delegation, plunging the whole Olympic movement into mourning. Eleven outstanding Israeli athletes and coaches were murdered. Presidents as Nakum Heth, Mordekai Zilist, Shalom Zysman, I. Panay and Joseph Inbar. A full list of Presidents appears opposite. One of the major decisions made during the course of the OCl s development was to create a special committee in 1969 composed of members elected from the OCI and all the sports federations and associations of the country. Successive Presidents of the OCI 1952-1955 : Nakum Heth. 1955-1959 : Mordekai Zilist by yearly 1955-1960 : Shalom Zysman rotation 1960-1964 : ltzhak Panay. 1964-1977 : Joseph Inbar. Since 1977 : Isaac Ofek *. ISRAEL AND THE OLYMPIC GAMES 1952 - First Israeli Olympic delegation. Date of first participation : 1952. Since then, Israel's sportsmen have been present at the celebration of each Olympic Games. As yet, no Israeli athletes have taken part in the Winter Games. 539
Representation of Israel at the Olympic Games from 1952 to 1976 1 1952 7(3) 12 1956 1 1960 8(3) 2 2 3(3) 2 1964 5(2) 1968 2(1) 19 1972 2(1) 2 3 1976 (1) (1) 17 1 1 1 The figures in brackets represent the number of women included in the first figure. Not included on the programme. 1968 - Israeli football team classed 5th in the Olympic tournament. 540
1952 2 3 24(3) 1956 2( 1) 3(1) 1960 4 2 23(6) 1964 2 3 10(2) 1968 6(2) 4 31(3) 1972 3 1(1) 2 2 15(2) 1976 1 1 2 1 2 26(2) x Sport included in the programme but in which no event was contested. 2 Demonstration sport. Best participants The fifth place obtained at Mexico in 1968 by the national football team is the best Israeli performance at an Olympic Games. 1974 - Asiatic Games: Mr. Haïm Glovinsky presented the gold medal to athlete Ester Roth-Shachmorov. At the preliminary stage, the Israeli football team beat the Ghana team (3:5) and the San-Salvador team (1:3), but the Israeli team was defeated by the Hungarian team (2:0). The quarter-final between Israel and Bulgaria was (0:0), when 120 minutes were over with the same result a coin was tossed which resulted in favour of the Bulgarian team which proceeded to the semi-finals. 541
PRESENT ORGANISATION OF THE OCI The OCl s current statutes came into force on 29th March, 1970. Composition The OCI is composed of 25 members, comprising the President and representatives of the sports federations, as well as personalities who have served or who are serving the sports cause in Israel. All members of the OCI serve in an honorary capacity. Present members PT : Mr. Isaac Ofek * ; SG : Mr. Haïm Glovinsky * ; VPT : Mr. Haïm Wein * ; ST : Mr. ltzhak Caspi * ; MS : Michael Almog, Eli Amiel, Zeev Braverman, Aharon Doron, Moshe Edelstein, Yigal Griffel, Jecheskel Harmelech, Azrikam Miltzen, Israel Paz and Yariv Oren Federations affiliated to the OCI Olympic Federations Création IF Members Affiliation 1960 1974 Football Basketball (As from affiliated to Israel Sports Federation) Independent as from 1928 1929 8 000 20 000 1939 2 000 15 000 1968 Israel Sports Federation (incorporating the following sports) Athletics Rowing Boxing Cycling Fencing Gymnastics Handball Judo Wrestling Swimming Water polo Shooting Volleyball Weightlifting Yachting 1951 1961 1946 1952 1952 1933 1952 1956 1952 1952 1954 1949 1954 1954 70 300 100 100 100 200 600 1 500 100 500 2 500 150 600 400 2 000 500 3 500 2 000 400 4 000 500 1 100 3 500 400 Non-Olympic Federations Tennis Table-tennis 542 1943 1944 8 000 20 000 1952 2 500
(Director, Sports Authority, Ministry of Education & Culture). The Executive Committee of the OCI is made up of 13 members, comprising the President, ex-officio, Vice-President, Secretary General, Secretary-Treasurer and nine members. Financing of the OCI The OCI obtains its financial resources from the Sport-Toto Israel which organises the football pool operated by the Israel Sports Betting Board. The profits are distributed according to the needs and requirements determined by the OCI. Each federation receives a contribution, proportionate to its requirements, as established by the OCI. These subsidies represent a large percentage of the OCl s expenditure. Other budgeted items are : sports installations, sports equipment, expenses of Olympic delegations, Athletes Provident Funds, etc. The OCI does not get any financial aid from the State. THE OCI AND OLYMPISM Olympic day Olympic day is not yet regularly celebrated in Israel. However, in November this year the OCI intends to hold a special sports event, in conjunction with celebrations for the 30th anniversary of the State of Israel. This will include various sports performances and the granting of special medals to 30 outstanding Israeli athletes (one for every year since the establishment of the State). Olympic awards obtained Olympic Order 1976 : bronze medal attributed to Haïm Wein *, founder of the Israel Sports Federation. The President of the IOC, Lord Killanin, congratulates Mr. Haïm Wein, holder of the Olympic order. Protection of the Olympic emblems No protection of the Olympic emblems has as yet been obtained, but the OCI is endeavouring to obtain such protection. International Olympic Academy Some 34 Israeli participants and two lecturers have participated at the IOA since 1962. Israeli Olympic bibliography Five Linked Rings, the story of the Olympic Games, published by Oth. Tel Aviv, in co-operation with the OCI, 1961 (Hebrew). Sports in Israel, 1968 (English - Hebrew) and 1976 (English - Hebrew). Sports in Israel, 1977 (English, French, Spanish, Hebrew) published by the Wingate Institute for Physical Education. Israel in VI Asian Games - Bangkok 1970, 1970 (English - Hebrew). Israel XX Olympic Games - Munchen, 1972 (English - Hebrew). 543
SPORT IN ISRAEL Other sports governing bodies The Israeli Sports Federation, chaired by Mr. Aharon Doron, was established in. Since 1951 it has included all the country s sports organisations. The Federation is the central body for 14 major sports, but does not embrace soccer, tennis, basketball and such sports played in Israel on a smaller scale like cricket, rugby, golf, bowls and riding. The Sports Federation maintains international ties for all the sports it embraces. The present Secretary General is Samuel Lalkin. The Maccabi Sports Organisation established in 1912, was the first country-wide sports organisation and is affiliated to the Maccabi World Union. Mr. ltzhak Caspi is the Chairman and Mr. Yehuda Tager Technical Secretary. It was preceded by smaller scale bodies like Rishon le-zion in Jaffa and Bar Giora in Jerusalem, which existed already in 1906. Maccabi sprouted a network of clubs in different parts of the country and engaged in a wide range of sports. It sent teams to compete abroad, and Maccabi clubs were founded throughout the world. The most outstanding Maccabi achievement has been the organising of Maccabiah Games every four years since 1932. In these Games, sport contingents from nearly 30 countries compete in 20 sports. In Israel, the Maccabi now has 114 clubs active in 16 sports. The last Maccabiah Games were held in July 1977 and the next are scheduled for 1981. Hapoel, the sports organisation of the Labour movement, was founded in 1926. Today it is the largest sports organisation in Israel, with over 100,000 active members in 850 clubs. The Secretary General is Mr. Isaac Ofek* who, since 1977, has been President of the OCI. Since 1927, Hapoel has been a member of the International Labour Sports Organisation, and its representatives are in charge of various activities within the latter body. Hapoel organises international rallies in Israel once every five years with the participation of top international athletes. Whilst developing the talents of outstanding sportsmen, Hapoel lays stress on mass participation sports at its branches and work places. The last games were held in May 1975 to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The Betar National Sports Centre, established in 1924, has 80 branches in Israel. Its main spheres of activity are in football, boxing, athletics, basketball and table tennis. Elitzur is the religious sports organisation, founded in 1939. Its main activities are in volleyball, basketball, table tennis, athletics, swimming, handball and football. It has 60 clubs. The Academic Sports Association, established in 1953, represents Israeli students and academicians at international university contests and the International Federation of University Sports. The association has members at ten higher educational institutions in Israel. Training of sports leaders The Wingate Institute for Physical Education and Sport is a public institution supported by the government as well as by the Israel Sports Federation. Four schools operate at the institute-a college for physical education teachers, school of physiotherapy, one for 544
The covered stadium in Tel Aviv. coaches and the Army physical training school. The institute also organises special courses for foreign students who can benefit from the six gymnasia, hall for indoor games, stadium with a 400m track, 50m swimming pool and other sports facilities which are in the institute s grounds. Sport at school The school programme includes physical education lessons taught during the main part of the school day ; intramural and interscholastic competitions, especially at secondary school level, sport days, summer and holiday camps and the Sport-Badge test. In the lower grades of the infant and primary schools it stresses movement education and sensory-motor learning, as well as dance, movement games and basic skills. In the upper grades of primary school (four to six years) systematic fitness exercises are introduced, as well as the foundations of games and sports such as basketball, volleyball, handball, football, batting games, athletics, swimming and gymnastics. In high school special swimming instruction is compulsory for all students. Since 1973 physical education is recognised as a subject for the matriculation examinations and a special threeyear programme is being tried out at a number of schools. Sport for all A new approach towards sports has developed during the last 20 years in Israel, expressed by popular sports events in which thousands of persons of all ages and both sexes take part. The most outstanding events are : 545
The popular cross-kinneret (Sea of Galilee) swim (5.5 km), organised by Hapoel, now has over 10,000 competitors each year. There is also a 10 km. competitive swim. The race around Mount Tabor (10 km.), in which the runners make the circuit of the non-shaped mountain in the centre of Jezreel Valley, had 5,200 participants in 1974. The three-day march to Jerusalem, which was inaugurated by the Israel Defence Forces in 1956. Approximately 17,000-20,000 participants of both sexes aged 18 to 98 and soldiers take part. Sports installations 14 sports stadia, the largest of which is the National Sports Stadium in Ramat-Gan, with a capacity of 50,000. The largest indoor sport stadium is in Tel Aviv with a capacity of 10,000. 817 sports grounds. 12 outdoor 50 m swimming pools and 5 indoor 50 m swimming pools. 278 other swimming pools. 34 sports halls. Sports which draw the biggest crowds Football, basketball. Sports experiencing the greatest development Football, basketball, swimming, athletics. ISRAEL AND THE INTERNATIONAL FEDERATIONS Mr. Haïm Glovinsky is Vice-President of the FIBA Commission for Technical Aid and Mr. Jacob Shaltiel is a member of its Commission on Bye-Laws and Regulations. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES Isaac Ofek President of the Olympic Committee of Israel since 1977. Born in, he was Chairman of the Yachting Committee of Israel from 1960 to 1970. In his capacity as President of the Israel Sports Federation from 1970 to 1975, he took part in the work of the OCI. Since 1976 he has been Secretary General of the Hapoel Association. Executive member of the Comité Sportif International du Travail. Haïm Wein Vice-President of the OCI since 1966. Recipient of the bronze medal in the 1976 Olympic Order. One of the founders of the Israel Sports Federation in 1932, he served as its Chairman for ten years and has represented his country at a great number of international sports congresses and meetings. Long associated with the Maccabi World Union, he is in charge of the Maccabiah Games held every four years. In 1952 he was chef de mission for the first Israeli team to take part in an Olympic Games. Haïm Glovinsky Secretary General of the OCI since 1952. Born in 1902, he was one of the founders of the Israel Football Association. Elected Chairman of the Israel Sports Association, he later established the Independent Basketball Association of Israel, acting as its Chairman. Mr. Glovinsky was elected Vice-President of the FIBA Committee for aid to developing countries, a position he held for eight years, and has been one of the leaders of Israeli contingents to all Olympic Games since 1952. In 1977 the Municipality of Tel Aviv awarded him the title Worthy of Tel Aviv in recognition for his activities in promoting sport and physical education. Itzhak Caspi Secretary-Treasurer of the OCI. Born in 1920, he was Chairman of the Basketball Association of Israel and Vice-President of the Israel Sports Federation. At present he is Chairman of Maccabi Israel, and Vice-President of the Maccabi World Union. Honorary Vice-President of the International Committee of Maccabi Games (IMGC). he is also a member of the AGF. Mr. Caspi is a councillor of the Tel Aviv Municipality and head of its Public Works Department. 546