Sport
Organised sports in Israel trace their roots to the Maccabi movement, an international Jewish sports organisation with its own four-yearly ‘Olympics’ (called the Maccabiah) that began in Europe in 1895. In 1932, for the first time the Maccabiah was held in Palestine and has been held there ever since. The second Maccabiah garnered the support of more than 500 athletes, many of whom later chose to stay in Palestine to escape the Nazi persecutions that had engulfed Europe. The Maccabiahs became more than a tradition – they became an inspiration and a catalyst for organised sports in Israel. Recent games have attracted around 4000 athletes from 40 countries.
Basketball is the national passion. The Maccabi Tel Aviv basketball club, 193 Hayarkon Street (tel: (03) 605 9333; fax: (03) 605 9992; website: www.maccabi.co.il) is the first and most successful in Israel. The team became the first national champions when the league started in 1954. Since then, it has won the Israeli Champions Cup 42 times – including a streak of 23 consecutive titles – as well as various other cups. Season tickets to watch Maccabi play at the Yad Eliyahu Sports Palace, 108 Ben Yahuda Street, Ramat Gan (tel: (03) 527 2112; fax: (03) 527 3277), cost NIS800-NIS3300, depending on seating, and can be purchased from Maccabi offices or by telephone.
Hiking is a major recreation in Israel. The whole country is criss-crossed by a network of well-maintained long-distance footpaths. The Society for Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI), Hashela 4, Tel Aviv (tel: (03) 638 8653; fax: (03) 537 4302; website: www.spni.org), provides tours and educational materials and maps for hikers and ecotourists.
Fitness centres: Gordon Pool (tel: (03) 527 1555), on the waterfront near the Sheraton Hotel, is a popular spot for healthy locals, with a saltwater Olympic pool and fully equipped fitness centre. The complex opens at 0600 and entrance is NIS45. All the major hotels have outdoor swimming pools and many have fitness equipment.
Golf: The only complete authorised PGA-standard golf course in Israel is the 18-hole Caesarea Golf Club (tel: (04) 636 1174/2, website: www.caesarea.fm/pages/golfmain.htm), next to the Dan Caesarea Hotel, on the Haifa/Tel Aviv motorway (30 minutes from Tel Aviv). The club organises package deals for foreign visitors, such as US$500 for ten games (and thereafter US$50 per game).
Tennis: Tel Aviv has many tennis centres for all levels. Tel Aviv National Sports Centre, Hadar Joseph, 2 Shitrit Street (tel: (03) 649 6465), has 18 courts. More avid players should visit the Israel Tennis Centre (tel: (03) 645 6666; website: www.tennis.org.il/english/index.htm), situated half an hour from the city centre, in the affluent suburb of Ramat Hasharon. It has helped put Israel on the international tennis map and has 25 courts open to the public, as well as a selection of highly qualified trainers. Public tennis courts may also be found in many of Tel Aviv’s main hotels. The Israel Tennis Association (tel: (03) 649 9440) can provide additional information.
Watersports: The main centre for outdoor watersports is at Marina Atarim (tel: (03) 522 4079), at the north end of the beach between the Carlton and Hilton hotels. Sailboats, windsurfers, boats and catamarans are all available for hire. The marina is open daily 0900-1700. Also at the marina is the Octopus Diving Centre (tel: (03) 527 1440). At the southern end of the beach, Leonardo Dive Centre (tel: (03) 510 5871), is located by the Dolphinarium. The Israeli Diving Federation is based at 94 Hayarkon Street (tel: (03) 523 6436; website: www.diving.org.il).
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Sport