History: The 1960s

1960

Olympic Congress in session at the Olympic Games in Rome confers status of "International Sports Federation of Olympic Standing" on Maccabi World Union - the Maccabiah Games being thereby recognized as "Regional Games"

1961 - The 6th Maccabiah

27 Countries, 1,000 Athletes
1961 is Israel's Bar Mitzvah year. A memorial ceremony is held for those nations who could no longer participate because their communities had been wiped out by the Holocaust like Poland, Germany, Yugoslavia and Hungary and for countries like Iraq, whose entire Jewish population made aliyah. The International Olympic Committee officially recognizes the Maccabi World Union. An International Maccabiah Games Committee is established to give full representation to Jewish Sports Organizations not affiliated with the Maccabi movement including: Hapoel, US Committee Sports for Israel, Canadian Maccabiah Committee. First-time participation by Guatemala and the Congo.

Sports Highlights
Olympic silver medallist and 3x world record holder Marilyn Ramenofsky leads the US swimming team who wins all but two events
Olympic rowers Don Spero and Allen Rosenberg take home golds
5-time Olympic fencer Al Axelrod takes first prize
Future Jewish Sports Hall of Famers Larry Brown and Lennie Rosenbluth lead the USA Basketball team to gold

1962

First "Latin American Maccabiada" is held in Buenos Aires, Argentina

1963

European Maccabi Games in Lyon, France
Foundation of the Maccabi Veteran Organization in Tel Aviv

The 7th Maccabiah - 1965

19 Countries, 1,200 Athletes
Deborah Turner, (track & field) who made aliyah from Great Britain, is the first female to light the Maccabiah torch. First-time participation by Iran, Jamaica, Peru and Venezuela. Ramat Gan Stadium is completely renovated, adding 5,000 seats for 55,000 capacity and improved track & field and athletic facilities.

Sports Highlights
USA swimming - 15-year-old Mark Spitz starts his international swimming career with 3 gold medals
World record holder and Olympian Marilyn Ramenofsky earns gold (400m)
Basketball's Tal Brody makes his first Maccabiah appearance for the USA
Golf is introduced and Ed Preisler makes his first of five appearances as a player and a coach
Weightlifter David Berger wins bronze in the 67.5 Kilogram Class

1966

First "Pan American Maccabi Games" in Sao Paulo, Brazil

1968

"Brith Hakoah 1909," the veteran organization of Hakoah, Vienna members, dedicate a monument commemorating Jewish sportsmen and women victims of the Holocaust in the Maccabiah Village

1969 - The 8th Maccabiah

27 Countries, 1,500 Athletes
All Maccabiah athletes make a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Western Wall. An impressive ceremony on Mt. Scopus, is attended by Israel's Deputy Prime Minister, Yigal Allon. Prime Minister Golda Meir is also on hand. After a long absence, Germany and Greece return to the Games. An inauguration is made for the new swimming pool at Yad Eliyahu. For the first time an international Youth Camp is held within the framework of the Maccabiah. The corner stone is laid for a Museum and Archives in the Maccabiah Village.

Sports Highlights
Mark Spitz, who is joined by his sister Nancy, is named outstanding Athlete of the Games
Other American gold medal performances

Tennis ace Julie Heldman Golfer Bruce Fleisher Olympic fencers Al Axelrod, Dave Micahnik and Carl Borack Weightlifter David Berger

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