The kick-off for the Westchester 2009 JCC Maccabi Games was held July 17 as County Executive Andy Spano, Chairman of the County Board of Legislators William Ryan, JCC of Mid-Westchester Executive Director Steve Young and co-chairs of the Games Cheryl and Philip Milstein and Jane Och introduced some aspiring Gold Medalists at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

The event was also attended by Games chairpersons, volunteers, performers and other officials.
 
The JCC Maccabi Games are the oldest and largest Olympic-style sports competition for Jewish teens. More than 1,400 athletes from around the country and the world will join nearly 400 local teens for a week of competition, camaraderie and local community service, from Aug. 16-21 at venues throughout the county.

“This is the first time the prestigious Maccabi Games are being played here in the event’s 27-year history in North America,” Spano said. “It’s our opportunity to showcase our county and all that it has to offer and to extend our hospitality to the thousands of people who will be here. The Games are great for Westchester and will add millions to our local economy.”

 “We are thrilled to bring this exciting international sports event to the Westchester community,” said Young. “We are hosting these Games along with the Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester and the JCC on the Hudson, and will be using over 20 different locations, including the County Center, for the sports competitions, community service and social activities, making this a true community-wide event.”

Athletes will compete in 11 different sports including basketball, soccer, baseball, volleyball, in-line hockey, swimming, golf, tennis, bowling, table tennis and dance. 

The positive economic impact of the Games is already being felt with over 2,000 hotel room nights booked for some of the 10,000 spectators who are expected to travel here this summer. The Games are expected to generate more the $5 million, as friends, family and volunteers dine, shop and play when their athletes are not on the fields.

“The Westchester community has responded very positively to all our efforts,” said Ford Levy, President of the Board, JCC of Mid-Westchester. We have received great support from the county, private and public venues including the County Center and the Solomon Schechter School, continental sponsors Coke and New Balance, local businesses including AJ Textiles, GHP Office Realty, Gutteridge & Cambareri, LLC, Jackson Lewis, Levitt-Fuirst Associates Ltd, NYSE, Perlmutter Properties, PM Pediatrics, Robison Oil, Shleppers Moving and Storage, UJA-Federation of NY, UJA-Federation of NY – Westchester Region and UJA-Federation Westchester Business and Professionals Group, Westchester Parent, Xergames and Zaros, and many generous individuals.”

The Games’ Opening Ceremonies will be held on Aug. 16 at Madison Square Garden and the entire Westchester community is invited to attend, free of charge.

“We are extremely excited to be working with The Garden and we anticipate the ceremony will be nothing short of spectacular,” said Young. Legendary ESPN sportscaster Chris Berman will emcee a uniquely New York Broadway-themed event, including performances by Broadway actors, high-energy hip-hop dancers, and Westchester rising stars, some of whom performed at the kickoff event.

“Planning and executing an event of this magnitude requires tremendous volunteer and financial support,” said Young. “Hundreds of people have been involved in planning this great event for the last 2 years and we’ve raised over $1 million. However, 1,000 people are needed to help during the week of the Games as greeters, chaperones, food servers and scorekeepers, and we are still raising funds to ensure the Games will be a resounding success for the community.” Details about the Games overall as well as specifics on volunteering and sponsorship can be found at www.westchestermaccabi.org.

The JCC of Mid-Westchester is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the community by providing cultural, social, educational and recreational/fitness programs, human services and Jewish identity-building opportunities to people of all ages and backgrounds.