Courtesy photo
The JCC Maccabi Games — the largest organized Jewish teen sports event in North America — is currently underway in San Diego, bringing together 1,500 teenagers from 20 states and four Canadian territories.
The 2022 JCC Maccabi Games, which runs through Friday, also mark the 40th anniversary of the games. Hosted by JCC Association of North America, the event has engaged more than 500,000 Jewish teens over the years.
Founded in 1982, the JCC Maccabi Games is an Olympic-style sporting competition where athletes from ages 12 to 16 can showcase their talents while practicing Jewish values. The San Diego Games will include baseball, basketball, 3×3 basketball, flag football, ice hockey, soccer, and volleyball. Individual sports competitions will include golf, swimming, and tennis.
The 40th anniversary games will also mark the launch of JCC Maccabi Access, a pilot initiative that will provide Jewish teens who have cognitive and developmental disabilities with a meaningful and integrated JCC Maccabi experience. This initiative will be the first of many opportunities to expand the JCC Maccabi experience in the coming years, organizers said.
The games have featured notable alumni and world-class athletes, including Olympic gold medalists Mark Spitz and Mitch Gaylord, NBA stars Ernie Grunfeld and Danny Schayes, and tennis legends Brad Gilbert and Dick Savitt.
For more information, go to jccmaccabi.jcca.org.