19th Maccabiah
The logo for the 19th Maccabiah Games (המכביה ה-19)
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| Nations participating | 77 | ||
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| Debuting countries | 17 | ||
| Athletes participating | 7,500 | ||
| Events | 490 Medals 34 Sports | ||
| Opening city | Jerusalem | ||
| Opening ceremony | July 18, 2013 | ||
| Closing ceremony | July 30, 2013 | ||
| Officially opened by | Shimon Peres | ||
| Main venue | Teddy Stadium | ||
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The 19th Maccabiah (Hebrew: המכביה התשע-עשרה) were the 19th incarnation of the Maccabiah Games, which took place July 18 to 30, 2013.
The Games brought together 7,500 competing athletes, making it the third-largest international sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup. The Maccabiah held competitions in 42 disciplines, in 34 sports. A number of new sports were introduced or brought back, including archery, equestrian, and handball; ice hockey was brought back for the first time since 1997.
The Maccabiah Games were first held in 1932. In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee.
The opening ceremonies for the 19th Maccabiah took place for the second time at the Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem. The games were officially opened by Shimon Peres. US President Barack Obama greeted the Maccabiah through a prerecorded video. Prime Minister David Cameron also greeted the Maccabiah and Team GB.
During the parade of nations, giant helium balloons with the country the delegation represented accompanied each delegation. Coincidentally, the opening ceremony took place on Nelson Mandela's birthday. The South African delegation carried with them a large banner reading: "Celebrating our legacy – Mandela Day".
U.S. Olympic gold-medal-winning gymnast Aly Raisman lit the Maccabiah cauldron. The opening ceremonies were celebrated with performances by a number of popular musicians, including Rami Kleinstein and Harel Skaat. Additionally, Grammy-winning Israeli violinist Miri Ben-Ari and the The X Factor finalist Carly Rose Sonenclar also performed at the ceremony.
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