Opening Ceremonies-2001
Opening Ceremonies, Teddy Stadium, Jerusalem
For the first time in the Maccabiah history, the opening ceremonies were held in Jerusalem. Teddy Stadium hosted over 20,000 spectators to a spectacular program. Past Maccabiah participants were honored, and a memorial was held for the 4 Australian athletes who were killed in a bridge collapse during the 1997 opening ceremony. The program continued with music, lights and dancing that featured hundreds of children in a fantastic spectacle. Israeli dignitaries, including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Jerusalem Mayor Ehud Olmert, gave politically-charged speeches in Hebrew and English. After the program, thousands of athletes poured on to the field to celebrate in unity by swapping t-shirts, hats, pins and warm-ups. The powerful ceremony touched all participants, but the ruggers soon turned their attention back to the task at hand.