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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