The British team for the 20th Maccabiah Games arrived in Israel today with the hope of improving on the 24 medals it won at the “Jewish Olympics” four years ago. The delegation of 385 athletes, coaches and managers from the UK will be preparing to compete in more than 30 sports.

Around 10,000 competitors from 80 countries will take part in one of the world’s largest sporting contests with 2,100 medals at stake.

Britain is sending a junior lacrosse team for the first time, although it has not entered a rugby squad this year.

The three British flagbearers who will walk out at Thursday’s opening ceremony at the Teddy Kollek Stadium in Jerusalem are Bernard Davidson, Brian Green and Jack Mattey.

The first events will get under way on Tuesday with the competition ending on Sunday week.