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.