I returned to Israel last week for the first time in eight years, the first time since I came to participate in the 15th Maccabiah Games, at which tragedy struck the Australian team when the bridge outside Ramat Gan stadium collapsed and four of my team members died.
I am a member of the Australian rugby team, which is competing in a competition that includes teams from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., South Africa and Isreal. The standard of Maccabiah rugby is high and the level of competition is fierce.
Australian delegation crosses news bridge over Yarkon River
Since arriving last week, the Australian team has endured a busy and exciting program that has included a combination of hard training and sightseeing at some of Israel's major attractions, including the Western Wall and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and Masada.
The Games opening ceremony, an event many of us have been looking forward to for many years, will take place tonight. There is a sense of unfinished business for a number of us, because in 1997 the bridge tragedy denied us the opportunity to march into Ramat Gan, to wave at our families and friends and to experience the magic of a Maccabiah opening ceremony. Although the opening ceremony is tonight, the rugby competition has already begun. Yesterday all teams played their first game, and this morning the tired bodies and limping warriors milling around the breakfast buffet told the story of the tough and rugged contests of the day before.
The Australian team is relatively young and inexperienced and we were very disappointed to lose our first game to the U.S. yesterday. Against a bigger and stronger side, however, I was impressed by the courage, guts and determination shown by the boys from Oz. In the lead up to the game, every player spoke to the team with inspirational words, while our coaches and others also provided inspiration that sent us onto the field ready to put our bodies on the line for 80 minutes, ready to do whatever it took to win.
Unfortunately it was not to be on this occasion. However, the competition is young, and we have at least two matches to go against South Africa and the U.K. Thereafter, hopefully, we will play the semi-final, and then the final. It is a daunting and difficult task and the odds may be against us, but we will put everything we have into it.
Our next game is against South Africa at 7 p.m. at the Wingate Sports Center near Netanya. Why not come along and cheer for an Aussie?
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