Maccabiah move welcomed

THE family of one of the victims of the 1997 Maccabiah Games bridge collapse has welcomed a decision to move the opening ceremony for future games to Jerusalem.

Greg Small was one of four Australian athletes who died when a pedestrian bridge outside Ramat Gan Stadium crumbled into the polluted Yarkon River on the day of the event.

“It brings back a lot of bad memories for people,” Greg’s son, Joshua (pictured), told The AJN. “It’s nice that we don’t forget what happened to people and the friends that we lost, but it’s good to get a fresh start.”
Small himself said he was hoping to be a part of Australia’s 2013 Maccabiah team.

“This time it’s for me,” the ten-pin bowler said.

“In my dad’s honour I completed his dream last Maccabiah by competing in it, which is something my dad never had the chance to do. Now it’s my dream to win a medal.”

The opening ceremony of the games has been held at Ramat Gan Stadium on the outskirts of Tel Aviv for more than two decades.

In 1997, the Australian team was standing on the bridge waiting to enter the stadium when it collapsed. As well as Greg Small, the tragedy claimed the lives of Yetty Bennett, Elizabeth Sawicki and Warren Zines. There were also dozens of injured.

The organising committee for the 2013 Maccabiah Games has decided to permanently move the opening ceremony to Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem, which is being renovated to increase the capacity by 10,000 to 31,000.

“I’m happy they are moving the opening on the basis that it is a positive legacy for the city of Jerusalem and they are trying to make Jerusalem the home of the games,” Australia’s head of delegation for the 2013 Maccabiah Games Harry Procel said.

But the victims won’t be forgotten, with a service still held on the site in their memories.

JOSHUA LEVI