Can anyone tell me if four hours, five minutes from Heathrow to Ben Gurion Airport is a world record? That is how long it took my El Al flight to take me to the Promise Land ahead of the Maccabiah Games.

The airport was rocking with Maccabiah fever but with no time for jet-lag, I continued my journey with a cab ride to the Wingate Institute in Netanya to interview World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton.

It’s not every day one interviews a legend and credit to the Manchester United man who braved scorching temperatures to stand and deliver hundreds of autographs to the local kids.

Role models are few and far between today but Sir Bobby continues to do things the right way.

The decision to allow him to lead Team GB at the Opening Ceremony has not gone down well in all quarters. I’ve heard some whispers that it is little more than a PR stunt but it’s names like his that help make this event the world’s third largest sporting occasion.

Shabbat rules tomorrow so I will recharge my batteries ready for the action to start on Sunday morning.