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MACCAB1 COUNTDOWN
Young Detroiters
are set to converge
on Toronto for the
Third Maccabi Youth Games
STUART ALDERMAN
Special to the Jewish News
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Jeremy Kahn of West Bloomfield does some warm-up stretches.
T
here is. more to athletic
competition than the fierce
battles teams and coaches go
through. Many youngsters in
the Metropolitan Detroit area
compete yearly on the Junior Mac-
cabi sports teams, but more is on
their mind than competitive sports.
The Maccabi games are spe-
cial," said Dana Dubranski, a 15
year old from Sterling Heights. Dub-
ranski, a national class gymnast,
won the overall gold medal in De-
troit in 1984, and represented The
United States in 1985, capturing a
gold medal in Israel. It is so much
fun being with people from all over
the world," she said. "It's so nice
meeting people from everywhere.
The people are special."
In August, more than 2000
youngsters, ages 12 to 16, will con-
verge on Toronto, Canada for the
Third "Junior Maccabi" Youth
Games. The Maccabi games have
sprouted since the Detroit club
formed in 1982. Memphis, Tennessee
48
Friday, July 18, 1986
hosted the first North American
games in 1982 with 300 youngsters
participating.
Detroit hosted the "second"
games in 1984, with the community
laying on the red carpet treatment
for more than 1,000 participants.
This year, approximately 1,000
American Jewish teenagers are ex-
pected to participate along with
some 400 Canadian entries. Other
countries to be represented are Is-
rael, Argentina, Australia, Brazil,
Chile, Colombia, France, Great
Britain, Mexico and Venezuela. De-
troit will host the 60-member Ven-
ezuelan team for a week before the
Aug. 15-21 games in Toronto.
A full program of cultural per-
formances and spectacular events is
planned for the Jewish athletes
when they arrive in Toronto, start-
ing with an oneg Shabbat following
the opening day ceremonies and end-
ing with a carnival and fireworks
display at the closing ceremonies.
Other events include an Israeli
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
night, a talent show, folk dancing,
rock concerts, a visit to Canada's
Wonderland amusement park and
also a trip to see a Toronto Blue
Jays baseball game.
"I've been writing a pen pal
friend that I met in 1984," said 14
year old swimmer Dena Bernstein of
Birmingham. "I like swimming, but
it is great meeting so many new
people. The cultural events get me
going and everyone enjoys the ac-
tivities. I participate not only for the
sports, but for the cultural aspect
also."
Each teenage entrant is regis-
tered in one of 12 sports: swimming,
basketball, volleyball, track and
field, gymnastics, tennis, squash,
table tennis, racquetball, sailing,
softball and soccer. Participants will
be lodged at Toronto's York Univer-
sity in "Olympic style" dorms or in
private homes in the area.
Although many of the
youngsters compete in their sports
year-round, they all look forward to
the Maccabi Youth Games. The
competition is just one aspect that
the participants look forward to.
Our Detroit club sponsors dances,
camp-outs, field trips and parties;"
said Bernstein. This year we have
more kids interested and trying out
for the swim team-than in the past.
I'm really excited about this year's
team."
Detroit's contingent at the Mac-
cabi games in Toronto will be ap-
proximately 125 athletes, 23 coaches
and other adult support team mem-
bers. This is our biggest function of
the year," explained Jay Robinson,
Detroit team captain for the Toronto
games. Robinson also has the tough
task of choosing the coaches. "We
pick them carefully. They are usu-
ally interested in the program, so-
cially and culturally, have expertise
in a given sport and some have also
competed for the United States."
Robinson believes that the goal
of the Maccabi teams revolves
around participation for all