The Israeli government has announced that the opening ceremony of the 2013 Maccabiah Games has been switched from Ramat Gan to Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium.

A new stand, which is currently being built, will increase capacity to 31,000 for next summer’s Games as well as the final of the Euro 2013 under -21 championships.

The government has allocated three million pounds on condition that most events are held in Jerusalem, the Negev and Galilee to encourage regional development.

Around 70 per cent of the cost will be funded by overseas finance.