1973 Maccabiah Games
The 9th Maccabiah Games were held in Israel from July 9 to July 19, 1973. About 1,800 athletes from 27 countries competed in 20 sports across 30 venues in the country. Spain and Costa Rica made their debut at the Games.
The opening ceremony took place at Ramat Gan Stadium and was attended by Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Golda Meir and President Ephraim Katzir. The event featured a torch relay from Modi'in and 60,000 spectators. Tal Brody, who had many years earlier played basketball in the United States before moving to Israel, lit the stadium torch. Tamara Metal was chosen as a torch bearer, but she read the Maccabiah Vow because she was pregnant.
The Games occurred ten months after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Olympics, when 11 Israeli athletes and coaches were killed. In competition, the United States won the most medals, earning 76 golds and 162 total medals, while Israel finished second with 60 golds and 166 total medals. The event showcased many athletes who would go on to Olympic or world-class success.
Notable performances included swimming star Anita Zarnowiecki of Sweden winning seven golds, American basketball player Ernie Grunfeld leading the U.S. team to a silver medal, Ilana Kloss winning multiple tennis golds, and Shaul Ladany and Esther Roth achieving top finishes in track and field. The 9th Maccabiah continued to highlight athletic achievement and Jewish sports connections from around the world.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 12:55 (CET).