Israel+and+the+Olympics

toc = = = = = THE ISRAELI OLYMPIC TEAM - Summer, 2012 = = [|A BLUE and WHITE SENDOFF for ISRAEL'S ATHLETES] = = ISRAEL ENROUTE to the OLYMPICS = by Abigail Klein Leichman Israel is sending a strong team of athletes to the London Olympics. This year’s goals: To win a medal in a new discipline, and to see a woman step on to the podium.
 * ISRAEL AND THE OLYMPICS**
 * Picture courtesy of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs**

Efraim Zinger’s ringtone is ABBA’s “The Winner Takes it All.” A perfect choice for the secretary-general of Israel’s National Olympic Committee. Read more at []



= VIDEO SPOTLIGHT OF ISRAELI OLYMPIANS = along with a Discussion Guide []

= = = ISRAEL'S OLYMPIC JUDOKAS POWER THE COUNTRY'S HOPES FOR A MEDAL = Alice Schlesinger and Arik Ze’evi are candidates for the podium in London 2012 By [|Ben Sales] July 11, 2012, 6:40 am 0

TEL AVIV (JTA) — One is nearing the end of his career, already has an Olympic medal and is eyeing another. The other is a decade younger, an up-and-comer who has enjoyed some success but is aiming for her first medal at the Games. Ariel “Arik” Ze’evi, 35, and Alice Schlesinger, 24, are standouts on the Israeli Olympic judo team and two of their nation’s best medal hopes at the London Games that begin later this month. Arik Zeevi (photo credit: Moshe Shai/Flash90) Ze’evi won bronze eight years ago in Athens and expects to win a medal this year after faltering in Beijing in 2008. Holding a camera while the Israeli media photographed him on Sunday, Ze’evi sounded like a soon-to-be retiree going on vacation. He talked about “enjoying the experience” and “staying calm.” Beneath the relaxed air, however, was a determined and optimistic veteran. Ze’evi won the gold medal at the European Judo Championships in April, and as the 38-person Israeli Olympic delegation’s senior member, he has emerged as one of its leaders. “I’m very calm, but there’s still time” before the Olympics, he said. “We don’t prepare for failure. We don’t set up scenarios where we don’t succeed. It’s better to have positive thoughts.” Ze’evi says he is “sure” that these are his last Olympics. If he were to participate in Rio de Janiero four years from now, at age 39, he would “compete with little kids,” he said. Another bronze-winning Israel judoka is heading to London: Oren Smadja is one of the five-person judo team’s coaches. Smadja, 42, believes that the medal he won in 1992 paved the way for more recent Israeli successes in judo, like Ze’evi’s bronze in Athens. “[My] medal led to people practicing,” said Smadja, who acknowledged that he prefers competing to coaching. “I don’t remember a delegation this strong. Some of [this year’s] team didn’t think they could get into the Olympics. With my dedication and desire, I think I was” one of the impetuses for the team’s strong performance. The Israeli judo team is coming off a strong performance at the European matches, where it earned four medals. Ze’evi and Smadja are hoping that Schlesinger finds her way to the podium at the Olympics. “She’s been [training] with me since she was 16,” Ze’evi said of Schlesinger. “I’ve seen her go from a promising athlete into one of the best in the world.” Smadja calls her “a serious candidate for a medal.” Schlesinger, who is “very satisfied that Arik is 35 and still competing,” voices cautious optimism about her chances in London. She did not win a medal in Beijing but has since won three bronzes — at the 2009 world championships and at the 2009 and 2012 European championships. But unlike Ze’evi, who sets the bar high for himself, Schlesinger says only that she hopes to “go home in peace” from London. “Like everyone else I want a medal,” she says, “but I want to enjoy it.” Smadja notes that “not everybody says ‘I’m going to win a medal.’ ” Close relationships and judo have always come together for Schlesinger. Her brother introduced her to the sport as a child, and she attributes her success to her parents, who would take her to competitions on weekends. Now her boyfriend, Pavel Musin, also is her coach. Schlesinger says Musin’s dual roles “help me a lot.” “To be in such an intense situation and be so close makes the experience different, makes it fun,” she said. Schlesinger says her romantic relationship relieves stress from practices rather than augmenting it. “Between every coach and athlete there are moments of tension,” she said. “But we have to solve them because we have to go home [together] at night.”

= Tal Brody - Ambassador of Good Will and Israeli Sports Legend = =[]= By Mordecai Holtz Tal Brody, nicknamed Mr. Basketball, is one of Israel’s modern-day sports heroes. He in many ways is a symbol of what Israel can achieve in even at such a young age. Here is a clip from Mr. Brody’s past and present.

As Team Israel prepares for the London Games, we decided to speak to Mr. Brody about his views on sports in Israel, the Olympics, and the future of sports here. No. I’d love to as an individual and as a coach or something. Over the years, we’ve been pretty close; the Israeli National Basketball Team has played in 3 pre-Olympic competitions. We’d probably have a better chance if we didn’t need to go through the European league. It’s a tough league. If we were in the Asia or Africa league we’d have a great chance. That would be fun. Basketball, of course.! Outside of this, I love gymnastics, swimming and running. The way the Olympics should be watched, at home with family. I always start by saying that Israel is the “Sports Capital of the Middle East.” That is to say of the 200+ countries competing in the Olympics, Israel has won more medals in its 60 years of competition than many have ever won. It’s a testament to our dedication and pride in sports and a commitment to success. With [|38 athletes this year], a strong representation at the Games, shows our gradual and progressive growth in investing in the future of Israel’s sports. Ice Hockey. Yes, it sounds strange. I recently spent time with Sid Greenberg (philanthropist behind the Metulla Center), I was inspired by seeing children from the Druze from Majdal Shams, Arabs and Christians from Nazareth and Jews from the surrounding areas all participating in Ice Hockey, I realized that this is our future. Sports has that ability. The National Team will be playing at the next Maccabiah Games! Ice Hockey and roller hockey seem to really be picking up speed here. Who knew?! There are so many! Here are a few. Our strength has always been Judo. Any message for all of us fans and spectators? > We’re a young country but we’re getting there, watch and be amazed! Go Team Israel!
 * Have you ever been to the Games?**
 * Were you ever close to going?**
 * What is your favorite Olympic sport?**
 * Where will you be watching the games?**
 * As an ambassador of good will, what message do you try to transmit to the athletes who are going to the Olympics?**
 * What are some of the areas in which Israel is investing, in terms of sports?**
 * Are there any Olympic athletes that we should look out for?**
 * In Judo, Arik Zeevi
 * Shachar Zubari and [|Lee Korzits] have an excellent chance to win medals, maybe even golds!
 * Zohar Zamiro could place nicely.
 * Neta Rivkin has great medal potential. She’s inspiring as are so many of the other Russian olim who have reinforced a variety of [|gymnastic sports in Israel].
 * Our synchronize swimming pair- Anastasia Gloushkov and Inna Yoffe
 * In Tennis, I love [|Shac] [|har Peer] and the ‘dynamic duo’ of Andy Rom and Ehrlich

=Seeking customers and goodwill, Samsung supports Israeli Olympic hopefuls=

A new app will let fans send messages of support directly to their favorite athletes
By [|David Shamah] July 12, 2012, 9:59 am 0

The Israeli Olympic Team receives smartphones from Samsung (Photo credit: Courtesy)

Related Topics
Korean electronics giant Samsung announced this week that it would be one of the sponsors of Israel’s Olympic team, as an extension of Samsung’s sponsorship of the Summer Olympics in London. In order to demonstrate its “commitment to the success of Israel’s 38-strong Olympic team,” Samsung has produced a smartphone app that will allow Israelis to communicate directly with the athletes. In a ceremony Sunday, the athletes received Samsung Galaxy S III phones, which they will use to get the messages of support sent by fans in Israel. The app — which aggregates messages on the athletes’ Facebook pages — will send messages in real-time, giving the athletes a morale boost when they need it most, said Barak Palachi, marketing director of Samsung Israel. The app, made for Android phones, will be available from the Samsung website beginning next week. The app is part of a major advertising campaign being sponsored by Samsung Israel surrounding the Olympics, on which the company is spending NIS 3 million. According to one advertising expert, that is a hefty sum for an Israeli marketing campaign that will last for about three weeks. “Samsung already has a large presence in the Israeli market, and is considered one of the premium brands in the country today in electronics, like televisions,” said Tzach Cohen, who manages a Tel Aviv advertising firm. “The company’s biggest concern now is upending Apple in the mobile market, promoting its new S3 [smartphone] model. With the publicity from this app and advertising campaign, Samsung will certainly get attention and goodwill.” As one of the top sponsors of the Games, Samsung “purchased” one of the eight Olympic torches, and a company representative will present it at the Games when they begin on July 27. The torch was on display in Israel last month for several days. Although Israel is one of its smaller markets, Korean electronics giant Samsung has gone out of its way to be a good corporate citizen here. For example, the company recently sponsored a “smart house” in Jerusalem, highlighting Samsung technologies, at a cost of over a million shekels. There are also several Samsung-subsidized programs for children and youth to learn high-tech skills. now.
 * [|cellphone technology]
 * [|mobile apps]
 * [|2012 London Olympics]

= [|Meet Team Israel: Misha Zilberman] =



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Shahar Zubari won a bronze medal for windsurfing at the Beijing Olympics, a “life-changing experience,” he says. His interest in the sport is thanks to some early coaching from his dad.
Zubari is a native of the Red Sea resort city of Eilat, and says it’s very peaceful. “There’s a lot of Eilat in me. I’m really peaceful in the way I windsurf, and I’m really calm. This is what makes me a better windsurfer.”

=[|Orthodox Jew Runs In London Olympic Torch Relay]= The founder of London’s Shomrim patrol was one of 187 people to carry the Olympic torch along its almost forty mile journey through South London, amid brilliant sunshine and enthusiastic cheers. Twenty two year old Efrayim Goldstein of Stamford Hill told VIN News that he began his day at 4 AM, when he was driven down to Lewisham and began to prepare for the day’s festivities. The Olympic torch was passed to Goldstein at approximately 8:30 AM and he carried the torch for just under half a mile. Goldstein described the experience as “really, really special.” “While 250 people came down to Lewisham specifically for me, there were hundreds and hundreds lined up along the road,” Goldstein told VIN News. “People were screaming my name. It was something that I will never forget and to receive this kind of public recognition for the charity work that I do inspires me to continue helping others.” Goldstein claims he got the support from Dayan Menachem Gelley of the London Beis Din who told him to be proud to carry the Olympic torch on behalf of Jews worldwide. “I was honored to show the world that even though we are Jews who are living in the diaspora, we stand united as a community in support of the government, something that I think made a huge //Kiddush Hashem// (sanctification of God’s name),” said Goldstein.
 * While Goldstein donned the same white official Olympic uniform as the other 8,000 torch bearers, he was the only one to receive an official Olympic yarmulke, which he described as white, bearing the same design as the uniform.**

Each of the torchbearers will receive their own Olympic torch and Goldstein plans to go with his torch to schools and other facilities and share his Olympic experience in the hopes that others will be inspired to do whatever they can to help the needy in their own communities.
 * After handing off the torch to the next torchbearer, Goldstein was joined by a group of fellow torchbearer in observing a minute of silence in memory of the Israeli athletes who were murdered at the Munich Olympics forty years ago.**

=** Looks like Tachana Merkazit on a Sunday morning! **=

=Israel at the Olympics!=
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Israel at the Olympics!
Israel’s best hopes for Olympic glory lie in the diversity and versatility of its athletes competing in London 2012. Israel’s 15th delegation numbers 38 athletes including 18 women, in eight sports, including gymnastics (ten athletes), swimming (eight) and sailing (seven). Israel has competed at the Olympic Games since 1952 in Helsinki, and the Olympic Committee of Israel has sent delegations to all Summer Olympics since then. Israel made its debut at the Winter Olympics in 1994, and has been a regular participant since. Yael Aras won Israel’s first Olympic medal in 1992 with a silver medal in Judo and Gal Fridman won Israel’s first, and so far only, gold medal at the 2004 Olympic games in men’s windsurfing. Israel has won at least one medal at every Olympics since the Barcelona games 20 years ago, and the team is determined to continue this tradition at London 2012. Scroll down to learn more about Israel’s 2012 Olympic athletes! At the 1992 games in Barcelona, Yael Arad was the first Israeli to win an Olympic medal, and Judo has been a successful sport for Israel since.
 * __Judo__**

[[image:http://www.embassyofisrael.co.uk/news/files/2012/07/images.jpg width="291" height="200"]]
Click [|here]to see Arik talk about his sport and his Olympic dream. __**Sailing and Surfing**__ Sailing and Surfing are two of the fields that Israelis have excelled in in the international arena, with windsurfer Gal Fridman being the only Israeli so far to have won an Olympic gold. [|In this video], Israeli Olympian Shahar Tzuberi not only demonstrates his windsurfing skills but also talks about his hometown Eilat and the most important influences on his approach to the sport. [|Click here to see Vered] talk of her love for the sport, her desire to compete at the highest level and the balance she must find between sailing and her other career as a lawyer. [|Click here to see a video of Shahar]Pe’er where she demonstrates her intensive training program. She also reveals her “lucky charm” and talks about the Israeli people, who she loves representing abroad. The team includes **Moran Bozovski** (team captain), **Neta Rivkin, Marina Schultz, Noa Palchi**, and **Victoria “Vicks” Koshel**. [|Click here to see]**[|Neta] Rivkin** training in Rhythmic Gymnastics • **Valeria Maksiota** - 24, moved to Israel from Ukraine on her own five years ago. In 2011, she won 27 medals in international competitions, 13 of them gold medals. • **Felix Aronovich** – 24, attended college at Penn State in the United States, where he won several titles. he excels in floor exercise, pommel horse, still rings, vault and parallel bars. • **Polyana Zakolzani** and **Eliora Zolokovski**
 * Arik Zeevi**- the 35 year old heavyweight judoka is widely recognized as one of the country’s most prominent sportsman and is currently ranked seventh judoka in the world. He is a four-time European champion, and this year, Arik became the oldest European champion at judo. After winning a bronze medal in 2004, this will be Zeevi’s fourth and final Olympics. Arik is also the winner of last year’s Grand Slam in Moscow, and has won a bunch of titles and medals throughout his career.
 * Artyom Arshanky**- the 21 year old has taken gold in both the under-17 European Cup and Continental Championships. He has taken two silver and three bronze medals at World Cup Events, and this year has won 15 of 22 matches, winning bronze at the 2012 European Championships.
 * Golan Pollack**- raised in Yehud in central Israel, Golan has four World Cup medals to his name, including a gold in 2011 in Tallinn. The 21 year old is now looking to build on his collection with an Olympic medal in the men’s under 66kg category.
 * Iosef (Soso) Paleleshvili**- born in Georgia, Iosef emigrated to Israel six years ago, and recently won a bronze medal at the European Championships in the under 73kg category. Despite missing out on the Olympic Committee of Israel’s criteria for London, the 25 year old was added to the delegation in a spot reserved for up-and-coming athletes.
 * Alice Schlesinger**- Born in Herzliya, Alice placed 13th in the 2008 Olympics in her weight category, and in August 2011 was ranked sixth in the world in her weight class. The 24 year old took a gold at the Moscow Judo Grand Slam in May, and is a bright contender for a medal.
 * Shahar Tzuberi**- Won a bronze medal in the 2008 games, and is the current the world champion.
 * Lee Korzits** - Lee made a phenomenal comeback after a spinal injury, going on to win the world championships in both 2011 and 2012. After a very successful year placing first in four qualifying international races, the 28 year old aims to become the first Israeli woman to win a medal since 1992 – First race on the 31st of July, 12pm.
 * Gill Cohen and Vered Buskila**- placed fourth in this year’s World Championship, they have a collection of wins at previous competitions, and aim to add an Olympic medal to their collection – First race on the 3rd of August, 12pm.
 * Gideon Kliger and Eran Sela**- the pair won the silver medal at the 2012 cup, and came third at the 2011 European Championship – First race on the 2nd of August, 12pm.
 * Nufar Edelman**- the 30 year old competed at the 2008 Games placing 16th in a one-person dinghy, and hopes to improve on it this time round.
 * __Tennis__**
 * Shahar Pe’er** - born in Jerusalem in 1987, Shahar has become Israel’s most famous tennis player, winning five WTA singles titles and three WTA doubles titles. In 2006 she broke into the world’s top 20 players, and has reached the quarter-finals at the 2007 Australian Open and 2007 US Open, and also reached the Women’s doubles final at the 2008 Australian Open.
 * Andy Ram**- the player made his reputation at Wimbledon in 2003 when he and **Jonathan Erlich**, his main doubles partner, reached the mixed doubles final, becoming the first Israelis to do so. Together they have won dozens of tournaments and are a bright hope for this summer Olympics.
 * __Gymnastics__**
 * Alex Shatilov**- the Uzbekistan born athlete is considered the best chance for a medal in the gymnastics, specializing in floor exercises. In 2008 he was the first Israeli to reach an Olympic final in gymnastics, and in 2011 was the first to win medals in World Championship and World Cup contests.
 * The Rhythmic Gymnastics Team** – the six women team won the bronze medal at the 2011 World Championships in France and have excellent prospects in the London Games. Team starts on the 9th of August at 2.45pm. Individuals at 12pm.
 * Other Israeli gymnastic Olympic athletes:**
 * __Swimming__**

__**Synchronised Swimming**__- **Anastasia Gloushkov, Inna Yoffe** __**Sharpshooting**__- **Sergey Richter** __**Badminton**__- **Misha Zilberman** __**Marathon**__- **Zohar Zemiro** __**Track**__- **Donald Sanford** [|Foreign Affairs] || || [|Ministry of] [|Foreign Affairs] [|iPhone App] || || [|Facts about] [|Israel] || || [|Follow us] [|on Twitter] || || [|Join us on] [|Facebook] ||  || The Ministry is not responsible for the content of external sites ||  || Embassy of Israel in London 2 Palace Green London W8 4QB 020 7957 9500 ||  || [|Subscribe] Unsubscribe [|Link Policy] ||  ||
 * Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or** – The 23 year old set a national record for Israel in the 2008 Games, and hopes to beat his record in London.
 * Amit Ivry** - Amit is the first Israeli female swimmer to place and win a medal for Israel at the European Championships in Hungary this year. Her 100-meter butterfly bronze medal swim was a personal record and qualified her for the Olympics.
 * Jonathan Koplev** - 20, became the first Israeli to hold the European championship title after setting a new personal best in the men’s 50-meter backstroke and winning the gold medal.
 * Yakov-Yan Toumarkin** – the 20-year-old set a new Israeli long course 200-meter backstroke swimming record at the 2011 World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai last July.
 * Imri Ganiel** - holds the national record in the 100-meter breaststroke.
 * Gal Nevo** – the national champion in the 200m and 400m individual medley (IM) as well the 200m butterfly. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he advanced to the semifinals of the 200-IM and placed 13th.
 * __Pole Vault__- Jilian Schwartz**
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=Israel at Past Olympic Games=

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Israel_at_the_Olympics