There may yet be hope for the junior delegation of Jewish athletes originally picked by Maccabi GB for this summer’s Maccabiah Games, since the FCDO changed the travel guidance for Israel earlier this week.
Two weeks ago, Maccabi GB pulled its junior delegation from the competition, citing “the safeguarding, management, training, and operational requirements involved in taking a junior delegation to Israel”.
However, the Foreign Office took Israel off the no travel list on Wednesday, with most of the country now being categorised as “green”.
The Gaza strip, sections of the West Bank, and parts around the border at the north of Israel are still “orange” or “red”.
Due to this development, Maccabi GB has told the JC that the outcome for the junior delegation is back under review, and the decision to send the two adult categories will remain the same.
A spokesperson for Maccabi GB said they were “very pleased that the FCDO has changed its travel advisory to Israel to green.
“With just over three weeks until the commencement of the Maccabiah Games, the change in advice falls within the deadline Maccabi GB set for its Open and Masters participants, and we are now working hard to ensure we can bring as many teams and individuals as possible who want to attend the Games in these adult age categories.
“Regarding the Junior delegation, Maccabi GB had set a deadline of 21st May for the FCDO advice to be green, to allow the organisation to properly prepare for taking children overseas. That decision was made in the context of the additional responsibilities involved in safeguarding, travel, logistics and the overall duty of care it has to the participating children.
“In light of the change in FCDO advice this week, the Maccabi GB Board will review the position regarding the Junior delegation early next week. We recognise the importance of this matter to our young athletes and their families.”
This is the second time that the games have been disrupted by regional conflict. They were supposed to take place last summer but were postponed to this year due to the Twelve-Day War with Iran.
Maccabi World Union has confirmed that the Maccabiah Games will take place this summer unless it is required to cancel by the Israeli government. The sporting event takes place in Israel every four years.
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