Albert Park to host Maccabi Junior Carnival

JOSHUA LEVI

JEWISH kids from around Australia, as well as New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore, will compete at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre after it was announced that the venue will host the 29th Maccabi Australia Junior Carnival in January.

Melbourne’s last Junior Carnival, in 2007, was the largest ever held. More than 1100 kids attended then, and organisers are hoping to beat that and attract 1250 Jewish teenagers to the competition next year, which runs from January 18-25.

Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in the central suburb of Albert Park is a world-famous venue. It was the site of the swimming, diving and table tennis competition during the 2006 Commonwealth Games and also hosted the water polo and diving contests at the 2007 World Swimming Championships.

Carnival organiser Mark Klapish said he is excited Junior Carnival competitors will be able to use world-class facilities.

“This is the first time Maccabi will be able to use the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre,” Klapish said. “These are the best facilities in Melbourne and it also means that we can centre the carnival around Albert Park, which will be good for parents.

“I think we have a great carnival team in place now and everything will be very well planned so there won’t be many hiccups.”

He added the focus for next year’s carnival is to have fun.

Competitors will be able to choose from 20 different sports, including indoor soccer, table tennis, basketball, mixed netball and swimming.

Participants will also be entertained with social functions every night and, for the first time, a community day will be held, where the entire Melbourne Jewish community will be invited to celebrate the carnival.