The Culture and Sports Ministry, through its Sports Administration, has officially recognized the Organization for the Promotion of Cheer Sport as the body representing cheerleading in Israel.
With this recognition, the organization will coordinate activity in the sport and be responsible for its promotion and development.
(Photo: Dana Kopel)
The recognition comes just three years after the sport began operating in its current format in Israel. During that time, about 15 cheerleading clubs have been established, with hundreds of athletes taking part, alongside the training of coaches and instructors, the development of competitions and the creation of national teams.
Significant progress has also been made internationally. The organization was recognized as Israel’s representative by the International Cheer Union, or ICU, and later became a full member of the organization.
This year, Israel’s national team competed at the World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando, Florida, while the youth team in the Youth Pom category achieved a historic result by winning a bronze medal.
Ludmila Yasinskaya Demri, president and founder of the organization, said: “This is a historic moment for cheerleading in Israel. Three years ago, we started almost from scratch, and today we have a sport that has built a professional infrastructure, established clubs, developed hundreds of athletes and achieved significant results, including a historic medal at the World Championships.
“We have received official recognition, and now we are moving forward, with many goals and a big vision for the future,” she said.