Aussies bound for Buenos Aires
The Australian team, including athletes and supporters, is 170-strong and for the first time will include padel players.
Excitement is building, as the Maccabi Australian team’s athletes and officials will soon head to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to prepare for the 2023 Pan American Maccabi Games, which starts on December 27 and runs until January 5.
General manager of Team Australia, Giselle Berlinksi, and general manager of operations, Sam Gamsu, have both previously toured the sites for the games in the Argentine capital and were left highly impressed.
“The Argentinians are ready to deliver an exceptional games, with outstanding sporting facilities, for a truly competitive event,” they said last week.
The opening ceremony will be on December 28 and the host nation anticipates that 4000 athletes, representing 24 countries, will march in it.
The Australian team, including athletes and supporters, is 170-strong and for the first time will include padel players.
Also making its Pan American Maccabi Games debut will be youth 3×3 basketball.
The Aussie delegation will have three generations of the Parasol family: grandfather Sam in masters table tennis, his son David managing the youth football team and David’s son Josh, a player in that team, which also includes brothers Jude and Jonathan Moss.
There will also be four Jona family members there: Ariel, Daniella, Galit and Martin – the latter coaching the youth football squad.
Jeff Sher was appointed Australia’s head of delegation for the Pan American Maccabi Games and the 2025 Maccabiah Games.
Rod Rosmarin – recently elected to replace Sher as Maccabi Australia president – will be in Buenos Aires as an official, but also as a men’s masters footballer for Australia.
Brothers Cody, Noah and Baily De Bortoli will form the nucleus of the open men’s basketball team, and the Aussie women’s basketball side features sisters Charlie and Mischa Beaconsfield, while three Landau family members will see tennis action.
The Aussies will also compete in swimming, Macman and open netball – bringing together on the court Kelly Bayer Rosmarin and her daughters Saige and Sienna.
Berlinksi said, “During these turbulent times it is essential that we demonstrate our support for Israel, for Jewish sport and the upcoming games, and that we continue to live our authentic Jewish lives.”
Australia’s flagbearers will be announced on December 26.
During the Pan American Maccabi Games, follow Maccabi Team Australia on social media and check out the official games site at : buenosaires2023.com.ar/en
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