Monday, July 11, 2005
Day 46: Haifa/ Ramat Gan
July 11: Long day but got to sleep in. Went to watch the Aussie women's soccer team play their first match. Unfortunately they lost to Israel but they tried very hard, especially in the boiling temperatures.
Had a quick bite to eat before heading down to Tel Aviv by train to meet the Australian supporters group to go to the Maccabiah Opening Ceremony, held at the National Stadium at Ramat Gan.
The ceremony was amazing: lots of famous Israelis singers, President and Prime Minister of Israel were there among others, over 8,000 athletes and team members marched into the stadium (with no dramas)... Australia went first, the cheer was huge from the over 400 supporters in the stand. We were given t-shirts to wear, flags to wave, clappers, whistles and more! Saw lots of people I knew.
Children of the four people killed in the 1997 Maccabiah bridge disaster walked first, then other people from 1997 who didn't get to walk in the opening ceremony who were here now and not competing in the 2005 team, and then the 2005 contingent - of which there were about 530 people (similar size to UK - USA was over 800). Very emotional to see them come in.
Lots of countries represented even if only in small numbers - Austria, Poland, Grenada, Panama, Japan, China/Hong Kong, Finland, Ukraine, India (cricket team), no New Zealand though.
All 6 continents were represented. Israel came in last - huge cheer for them too.
We said Yizkor for the Aussies who died in 1997. The whole stadium audience had torches to turn on to light up the areas, however the Australian section sat in darkness as we were the ones in mourning. Very symbolic.
The artistic section performed the history of the Jewish people in metaphoric ways, and there was lots of dancing and creativity put in - creation, wedding ceremony, rainbow (symbolising our commitment to G-d and vice versa, so I was told).
Torch was sent around the stadium and then lit by Israel's first Olympic Gold meddalist (forgotten his name) who achieved gold at the Athens 2004 Games for windsurfing. The flame was lit and then went up a shaft to light the cauldron. Hard to explain but looked great.
Lots of speeches, but night went very well.
Very happy I was there to see it happen.
Ceremony was broadcast live on Israeli TV, Channel 1, and supposedly on Fox Sports cable TV back in Australia too.
It was hard getting back to Haifa after the event. We could have stayed on people's floors back in Tel Aviv if we went back on the supporters' buses but then we would have still had to get back to Haifa somehow in the morning.
Thankfully we managed to get in touch with the athletes who were in a separate section. Although Australia's bus was full, the Americans were very kind, and allowed us to travel with them back to Haifa. Got home around 2am, long day, but a wonderful experience!
Had a quick bite to eat before heading down to Tel Aviv by train to meet the Australian supporters group to go to the Maccabiah Opening Ceremony, held at the National Stadium at Ramat Gan.
The ceremony was amazing: lots of famous Israelis singers, President and Prime Minister of Israel were there among others, over 8,000 athletes and team members marched into the stadium (with no dramas)... Australia went first, the cheer was huge from the over 400 supporters in the stand. We were given t-shirts to wear, flags to wave, clappers, whistles and more! Saw lots of people I knew.
Children of the four people killed in the 1997 Maccabiah bridge disaster walked first, then other people from 1997 who didn't get to walk in the opening ceremony who were here now and not competing in the 2005 team, and then the 2005 contingent - of which there were about 530 people (similar size to UK - USA was over 800). Very emotional to see them come in.
Lots of countries represented even if only in small numbers - Austria, Poland, Grenada, Panama, Japan, China/Hong Kong, Finland, Ukraine, India (cricket team), no New Zealand though.
All 6 continents were represented. Israel came in last - huge cheer for them too.
We said Yizkor for the Aussies who died in 1997. The whole stadium audience had torches to turn on to light up the areas, however the Australian section sat in darkness as we were the ones in mourning. Very symbolic.
The artistic section performed the history of the Jewish people in metaphoric ways, and there was lots of dancing and creativity put in - creation, wedding ceremony, rainbow (symbolising our commitment to G-d and vice versa, so I was told).
Torch was sent around the stadium and then lit by Israel's first Olympic Gold meddalist (forgotten his name) who achieved gold at the Athens 2004 Games for windsurfing. The flame was lit and then went up a shaft to light the cauldron. Hard to explain but looked great.
Lots of speeches, but night went very well.
Very happy I was there to see it happen.
Ceremony was broadcast live on Israeli TV, Channel 1, and supposedly on Fox Sports cable TV back in Australia too.
It was hard getting back to Haifa after the event. We could have stayed on people's floors back in Tel Aviv if we went back on the supporters' buses but then we would have still had to get back to Haifa somehow in the morning.
Thankfully we managed to get in touch with the athletes who were in a separate section. Although Australia's bus was full, the Americans were very kind, and allowed us to travel with them back to Haifa. Got home around 2am, long day, but a wonderful experience!
# posted by mishij @ 2:11 AM 
