1981 Maccabiah Games

[1] The Opening Ceremony was held on July 7, 1981, before a crowd of 53,000 and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin in Ramat Gan Stadium, with 3,500 Jewish athletes parading past him.

[1] Representative Jack Kemp (R; New York) and a supporter of Israel, marched with the United States team.

[4] In 1961, they were declared a "Regional Sports Event" by, and under the auspices and supervision of, the International Olympic Committee.

[14] In basketball, David Blatt, Danny Schayes (the first round draft pick of the NBA's Utah Jazz; carried the US flag in the opening ceremony), Al Walker, and Willie Sims won a gold medal with Team USA.

British sabre fencer Paul Klenerman, who three years later fenced in the Olympics, also medaled.

[25] Boris Djerassi of the United States won a gold medal in the hammer throw.

[24] Mike Jeffries and Seth Roland represented the United States in soccer, winning a silver medal.

[33][14] Eli Ohana and Rafi Cohen represented Israel, winning a bronze medal.

Israeli high jumping champion Gideon Harmat at the Games.