Jump to content

Sport in Israel: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
m Reverted edits by 204.69.115.54 (talk) to last version by Gilabrand
Line 118: Line 118:
[[Capoeira]] clubs operate in various locations in Israel.<ref>[http://www.capoeira-israel.co.il/capoeira.html Capoeira in Israel]</ref>
[[Capoeira]] clubs operate in various locations in Israel.<ref>[http://www.capoeira-israel.co.il/capoeira.html Capoeira in Israel]</ref>
[[Krav Maga]] is taught to most citizens in the army, and practiced recreationally throughout the country.
[[Krav Maga]] is taught to most citizens in the army, and practiced recreationally throughout the country.
[[Judo]] is one of the three sports in which Israeli athletes have won Olympic medals.
[[Judo]] is one of the three sports in which Israeli athletes have won Olympic medals. The Association of Martial Arts in Israel is chaired by [[Hamad Amar]], an [[Israeli Druze]] member of the [[Knesset]].<ref>[http://www.jpost.com/magazine/ Setting the Example]</ref>


===Lacrosse===
===Lacrosse===

Revision as of 06:46, 20 May 2013

Sports are an important part of the national culture. Sports in Israel are pursued both competitively and for leisure. Israelis engage in a wide range of athletic activities, with association football being the most popular sport. Israel has won seven medals in the Olympic Games, in judo, canoeing and windsurfing, and an Israeli grandmaster is the holder of the 2009 Chess World Cup. Israel also has a tradition of tennis. Another major achievement by an Israeli athlete was in pole vaulting.

Major sports

Association football

Main article: Football in Israel
Bloomfield Stadium in Jaffa, home of Hapoel Tel Aviv, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bnei Yehuda

Football (כדורגל, Kaduregel) is the most popular sport in Israel. The sport is under the jurisdiction of the Israel Football Association. The games that draw the largest crowds are those of the Israeli Premier League. In 1967, Hapoel Tel Aviv became the first club to win the Asian Club Championships. In the 2001–02 UEFA Cup Hapoel reached the quarter-finals after knocking out Chelsea, Lokomotiv Moscow and Parma.

Israeli teams were also qualified four time to the UEFA Champions League group stage, including Maccabi Haifa in the 2002–03 and 2009–10 seasons, Maccabi Tel Aviv in the 2004–05 season and Hapoel Tel Aviv in the 2010–11 season.

The Israel national football team hosted and won the 1964 AFC Asian Cup and qualified for the 1970 FIFA World Cup, which was held in Mexico. Mordechai Spiegler scored in a 1-1 draw against Sweden. Israel's Olympic football team qualified for the 1968 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics both times reaching the quarter finals. Israel's highest FIFA ranking was 15th in November 2008.

Famous matches of the Israeli football team include the 3–2 win in France in the 1994 world championship qualifying games, which ended up disqualifying the French team from the championship in the United States, the defeat of Austria 5–0 in 1999 during Euro 2000 qualifications, and a 2–1 win over Argentina in a friendly match in 1998, a game played in Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem.

Successful Israeli players who also played outside Israel include Eli Ohana, Giora Spiegel, Ronny Rosenthal, Avi Cohen, Eyal Berkovich, Haim Revivo, Dudu Aouate and Yossi Benayoun.

Basketball

Main articles: Israel Basketball Association and Israeli Basketball Super League
Hapoel Jerusalem

Maccabi Tel Aviv dominates the domestic league and is among the top teams in Europe. Maccabi Tel Aviv has won the European championship 5 times, in 1977, 1981, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Another Israeli team, Hapoel 'Migdal' Jerusalem won the Eurocup in 2004. The Israel national basketball team has participated 23 times in the European Championship. Their best achievements were a silver medal in Eurobasket 1979, and 5th place in 1953 and 1977. The national team also played in two World Championships and once in the Summer Olympic Games.

Israeli basketball is known for its Israel national U20 basketball team, winning silver medals twice, in 2000 and 2004, and finishing 4th twice (1994, 2005), 5th (1992), and 6th (2007). Israel U-20 also took place in the U-21 World Championship, finishing twice in 7th place (2001,2005), and 6th place (1993).

Israeli player Omri Casspi currently plays for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA.

Track and field

Calisthenics in Beit Hakerem, Jerusalem, c. 1925

Track and field athletics in Israel are mainly focused around the Maccabiah Games and the international Olympic Games, where Israel has achieved notable successes during its short history. The Soviet-born Aleksandr Averbukh is by far the most successful Israeli track and field athlete, having won three gold medals in the pole vault at European championships (2000 — indoor, 2002 and 2006) as well as two medals at the World championships (1999 and 2001).

Marathons

Long distance running is popular in Israel. The Tel Aviv Half Marathon, the Jerusalem Marathon and the Mount Tabor Run take place annually in March.[1] Another half marathon is held annually at Ein Gedi, near the Dead Sea.[2] In 2011, Jerusalem hosted Israel's first international marathon in which 10,000 runners participated (full marathon, half marathon, and 10K).[3] In March 2012, over 15,000 runners took part in the second annual Jerusalem marathon.[4]

Tennis

Shahar Pe'er, winner of Israeli tennis championship, 2008

Highly ranked players include Shlomo Glickstein (world ranked #22 at his peak), Amos Mansdorf (ranked #18 at the time), Anna Smashnova (ranked #15 at her best), Shahar Pe'er (ranked #11 at her best) as well as the doubles team of Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich (world #5 team in 2006 and 2008 Australian Open champions) - all of whom have trained at the Israel Tennis Centers. Since 2008, both men's and the women's teams have qualified for the top groups in the world - the men are in the Davis Cup world group, and the women are in the Fed Cup world group I. In December 2012, 12-year old Yshai Oliel of Ramla, Israel, won the 51st Junior Orange Bowl International Tennis Championship for his age group.[5]

Swimming

Israel Swimming Association is the major swimming federation in Israel. Swimming is popular in Israel's many beaches along the Mediterranean coast, the Sea of Galilee, in the Red Sea at the shores of Eilat, in the Dead Sea and in swimming pools. Famous Israeli swimmers include Eithan Urbach, Michael Halika, Gal Nevo, Yoav Gath, Yoav Bruck, Vered Borochovski and Anna Gostomelsky. At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Israel's team qualified to the final of the prestigious Men's 4 x 100 metre medley relay. Uri Bergman won 12 gold medals at the Paralympic Games, and other paralympic swimmers such as Izhak Mamistvalov and Keren Leibovitch won several gold medals as well.

Handball

Israel's national handball team participated in the 2002 European Men's Handball Championship in Sweden. Local power Hapoel Rishon Lezion qualified for the quarterfinals of the EHF Champions League in 2000.

Chess

Chess match in Arad

While chess, as an intellectual sport, has always been played in Israel, the arrival of large numbers of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union in the 1990s brought many chess grandmasters to Israel and increased interest in the game. Boris Gelfand is the 2009 World Cup winner.

Minor sports

Windsurfing

Israeli windsurfer Gal Fridman won two Olympic gold medals and was inducted into the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.[6] Israeli windsurfer Shahar Tzuberi won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.[7] In March 2012, Israeli windsurfer Lee Korzits won the women's RS-X title in the Sailing World Championships for the third time in a row.[8]

Softball

The Israel Softball Association [9] (fastpitch) was established in 1979 by a group of immigrants from North and South America. The Israel Softball Association is a registered Non Profit Organization which is recognized by the Sports Authorities in Israel and is a member of “Ayelet” - the Israeli Association of Non-Olympic Competitive Sports. The activities conducted by the Israel Softball Association have assisted in the social integration of immigrants countrywide, and today its members also include many native Israelis. The Association consists of 10 men's teams Divided into A Pool and B Pool, 3 women's teams,21 junior boys teams and 4 junior girls teams. The Israeli National Teams represent the country in European Championships and other International Competitions.

Boxing

In Israel, boxing is not just a sport but an educational vehicle for helping young people overcome prejudices. The Israel Boxing Association (IBA) operates certified gyms in cities throughout the country, with 1,800 active members from Arab villages and Ethiopian and Russian immigrant population centers. Boxers as young as 11 train and participate in matches organized by the association. Israeli Yuri Foreman is the current World Boxing Association super welterweight champion.[10] Roman Greenberg is currently International Boxing Organization's (IBO's) Intercontinental heavyweight champion.

Adi Rotem of Tel-Aviv is the current world champion in Thai boxing in the under-52 kilogram class.[11]Ilya Grad is considered one of the eight best amateur Thai boxers in the world.[12] In February 2012, Grad won the WCK international title in China and was permitted to enter Malaysia, which has no diplomatic relations with Israel, on an Israeli passport.[13]

Wrestling

Seven Israeli wrestlers competed at the 2010 Senior European Championship in Baku. Four were Greco-Roman wrestlers while the others were freestyle.[14] Gotsha Tzitziashvily competed at the Summer Olympics in Athens. He held the world championship title in the 84-kilogram weight class in 2003.[14]

Cricket

Israel became an associate member of the ICC in 1974. Israel competed in the first ICC Trophy in 1979, failing to get past the first round. They also failed to progress beyond the first round in the 1982 tournament and 1986 tournament. They reached the plate competition of the ICC Trophy in 1990 and 1994 and in 1996 competed in the first European Championship in Denmark, finishing eighth in the eight team tournament.

In the 1997 ICC Trophy in Malaysia, they faced political demonstrations throughout the tournament from the Islamic Party of Malaysia. They were the first Israeli sports team to play in the country and finished in 21st place.

In 1998, they finished ninth in the European Championship ahead of only Gibraltar and the following year travelled to Gibraltar to take part in a quadrangular tournament also involving France and Italy.

Israel have been playing in Division Two of the European Championships since 2000, finishing fifth in 2000, fourth in 2002, sixth in 2004 and seventh in 2006.

In November 2007, Israel were defeated in a relegation match against Croatia, in the first international cricket game played in Israel. The loss meant that they were relegated from the 2nd European division, to the 3rd Division. In 2009 they were promoted to Second division with a win over Croatia.

Rugby

Main article: rugby union in Israel
Lithuania national rugby union team playing Israel

Rugby union is a minor sport brought to the country by British soldiers during the Mandate era. The first game post-independence was in 1951, organized by Leo Camron. A wave of immigration from English speaking countries, and France, since 1967 renewed interest in the sport, particularly in areas with large English-speaking populations such as Ra'anana and Jerusalem. A national league was set up in 1972, and the Israel Rugby Union formed in 1975. Israel's first international match was away to Switzerland on 25 May 1981, and ended 9-9. The Israel Union joined the International Rugby Board in 1988. Rugby union has also featured at the Maccabiah Games since 1981. Israel has entered the Rugby World Cup Sevens.

American football

See also: American Youth Football § Other nations, and American Football Israel

The center of American football in Israel is the Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem. Currently there are 4 leagues playing Flag Football men's, women's - The WAFI which has 13 teams, highschool's - The Yosef Goodman High School League which has 12 teams and a youth's, all under the association of The AFI.[15] There're also 3 leagues playing tackle-football, A Junior-High Football League (which has donated equipment), An HighSchool league - IHFL[16] and an adults league - IFL [17] (Israeli Football League). The IFL has 11 teams coming from Jerusalem, Petah Tikva, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Beersheba and Ramat HaSharon. The game is mainly played by ex-pats from America, South Africa, England and France. The largest league in 2007 was men's contact, with xx teams competing in the annual Holyland Bowl championship. and the Tuesday Night co-ed league has 5 teams. Some 1000 players are involved in weekly football activities.[18]

Netball

Netball was introduced in Israel in 1999 by Jodi Carreira. Today there are clubs in Raanana, Modi'in, Jerusalem, Ma'aleh Adumim and Tel Aviv, all of which have teams participating in the Israel National Netball League. Israel Netball has sent senior and junior representatives to international events, culminating in its first international win in Ireland in June 2008. Israel is an associate member of the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) and an associate member of the Federation of European Netball Associations (FENA).

Golf

Israel has a single 18 hole Golf Course named Caesarea Golf & Country Club and located in the town of Caesarea and a smaller 9 hole course called Gaash Golf Club located at kibbutz Ga'ash.[19] Notable Israeli golfers include Rami Asayag, Asher Iyasu and world blind golfing champion Zohar Sharon.[20]

Baseball

Baseball was first introduced into the country on July 4, 1927, when baseball equipment was distributed at the Sephardic Orphanage in Jerusalem. The Israel Baseball League, managed by Larry Baras, was established in 2007.[21] It was the first professional baseball league in the Middle East. In its first and only season it had six teams that played in three stadiums. The first and only champions were the Bet Shemesh Blue Sox managed by Ron Blomberg.

Zaretski & Zaretski, 2006

Ice hockey

See also: Ice Hockey Federation of Israel

Ice hockey started in Israel in 1986 when the first rink opened in Kiryat Motzkin. Israel has a following of over 1,000 ice hockey players. Israel took part in the 2007 Ice Hockey Division II World Championships.

Figure skating

Main article: Israeli Figure Skating Championships

Israel has one regulation ice rink, located in Metulla, a city on the Lebanese border. Israel has been sending teams to the Winter Olympics since 1994. In 2002, Galit Chait and Sergei Sakhnovski finished sixth in ice dancing.[22] The Zareskis, a brother and sister ice-dancing pair, came in ninth in the 2008 world championships and first in the 2009 World University Games.[22]

Gymnastics

Israeli gymnast Neta Rivkin was the first gymnast of the country to win a medal at the European Championships when she won a silver medal in the Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships held in Minsk in 2011.[23]

Rivkin also won the first world medal for Israel in rhythmic gymnastics at the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships held in Montpellier, France in 2011, and she won the bronze medal at the hoop final. The Israeli rhythmic gymnastic group also won the bronze medal at the event final of 3 ribbons and 2 hoops at the World Championships in Montpellier.

In 2013, Alexander Shatilov won a gold medal at the European championship in gymnastics in Moscow, Russia.[24]

Martial arts

Capoeira in Israel

Capoeira clubs operate in various locations in Israel.[25] Krav Maga is taught to most citizens in the army, and practiced recreationally throughout the country. Judo is one of the three sports in which Israeli athletes have won Olympic medals. The Association of Martial Arts in Israel is chaired by Hamad Amar, an Israeli Druze member of the Knesset.[26]

Lacrosse

See also: Israel Lacrosse

Israel placed 8th out of 17 at the Lacrosse Championships in 2012 and has qualified for the World Lacrosse Championship in 2014. Domestically, there are two men's clubs and one women's club that operate within Israel.[27]

Underwater sports

Main article: Israeli Diving Federation

Maccabiah Games

The Maccabiah Games are an international Jewish athletic event, similar to the Olympics, held every four years in Israel. The first games were held in 1932.

Boycotts and violence against Israeli sportsmen

Main article: Boycotts of Israel in sports

Israeli sportsmen and teams are barred from some competitions.[28] In addition, in many worldwide competitions, such as the Olympics, some Arab and Muslim competitors avoid competing against Israelis. Some countries even force its sportsmen not to compete against Israelis or in Israel. Mushir Salem Jawher, a Kenyan-born marathoner, lost his Bahraini citizenship after competing in the Kinneret Marathon in Israel.[29]

In several cases Israeli sportsmen also fell victim to Palestinian attacks, such as the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Germany, when eleven members of the Israeli team were murdered. The incident required extensive secturity arrangements for Israeli teams in international competitions, thus limiting their participation in numerous sport events.

Integration of Arab citizens in sports

Despite the country's political problems, a growing number of Arab sportsmen are joining Israeli sports teams and contributing to Israel's success in the international arena, also playing in the Israel national football team. They include Rifat (Jimmy) Turk, Najwan Ghrayib, Walid Badir, Salim Toama, Abbas Suan and more.[30] Another Israeli Arab, Johar Abu Lashin, born in Nazareth, was an IBO Welterweight champion.

Olympic Games

Gal Fridman, winner of Israel's first Olympic gold medal
Shahar Tzuberi, windsurfer and Olympic bronze medalist
Main article: Israel at the Olympics

Israel has won seven Olympic medals. Gal Fridman won Israel's first Olympic gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Medal Name Games Sport Event
 Silver Yael Arad 1992 Barcelona Judo Women's half middleweight
 Bronze Oren Smadja 1992 Barcelona Judo Men's lightweight
 Bronze Gal Fridman 1996 Atlanta Sailing Men's sailboard
 Bronze Michael Kolganov 2000 Sydney Canoeing Men's K-1 500 metres
 Gold Gal Fridman 2004 Athens Sailing Men's sailboard
 Bronze Ariel Zeevi 2004 Athens Judo Men's half heavyweight
 Bronze Shahar Tzuberi 2008 Beijing Sailing Men's sailboard

Sports media

Television, radio, newspapers and news web sites discuss Israeli sports. In 2010, Israel sports radio, the country's first English-language all-sports talk radio station was established, covering Israeli and American sports.[31][32]

See also

References

  1. ^ Marathons in Israel
  2. ^ Runners collapse near Dead Sea as temperatures hit seasonal highs
  3. ^ Jerusalem Marathon
  4. ^ Runners brave bad weather in J'lem marathon
  5. ^ 12-year-old Israeli wins unofficial junior world tennis championship, Haaretz
  6. ^ "Gal Friedman". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on October 8, 2007. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
  7. ^ Israeli sailor Tzuberi wins Olympic bronze
  8. ^ Lee Korzits crowned world champion for third time after final day canceled
  9. ^ "Softball | התאחדות הסופטבול בישראל". Israelsoftball.org. Retrieved 2011-04-13.
  10. ^ Israel's boxing league a champ at promoting coexistence
  11. ^ Million Shekel Baby: The story of an Israeli world boxing champion, Haaretz
  12. ^ Itamar Eichner (October 12, 2010). "Thai Boxing fosters Iran-Israel Friendship". Ynet News.
  13. ^ Itamar Eichner (October 26, 2011). "Israeli boxer a reality star in Malaysia". Ynet News.
  14. ^ a b Grappling with a grim reality
  15. ^ AFI - Israel Flag Football
  16. ^ IHFL - Israeli Highschool Football League
  17. ^ IFL - Kraf Family Israel Football League
  18. ^ American football, official website
  19. ^ "Gaash Golf Club". Golf Today. Retrieved 10 March 2013.
  20. ^ Handler, Judd. "Out of Sight!". San Diego Jewish Journal. Archived from the original on 2006-12-30. Retrieved 2007-06-10. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  21. ^ Recent History of Baseball in Israel
  22. ^ a b Israel’s Winter Athletes Come to U.S. Seeking Ice and Medals
  23. ^ Gymnast Neta Rivkin places second at European Championship
  24. ^ Israeli wins gold in European gymnastics championship
  25. ^ Capoeira in Israel
  26. ^ Setting the Example
  27. ^ "Israel Lacrosse". Retrieved 2013-01-24. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Sports: Israel and Europe
  29. ^ "Bahrain athlete loses citizenship". BBC News. 2007-01-07. Retrieved 2010-01-04.
  30. ^ Chabin, Michele (2005-06-03). "Arab players key to Israel's success". USA Today. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
  31. ^ Ahren, Raphael (Jan.21, 2011). "Nothing but (inter )net sports". Haaretz Newspaper (Israel). Retrieved September 6, 2012. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  32. ^ Israel Sports Radio to launch Monday

Template:Link GA

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sport_in_Israel&oldid=555907545"