Maccabiah sports

Swimming has been part of the Maccabiah since the first Maccabiah in 1932. Additionally, the Maccabiah games include open water competitions of 1,500 and 5,000 meters.[1] Swimming competitions are conducted according to the rules of the International Swimming Federation (FINA).[2]

Squash became an official sport in the 10th Maccabiah Games in 1977. The competition was held at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which had two courts that were covered by a tin roof and open to the air. That year, the United States team consisted of the top Jewish hardball squash players in the country. The team was led by Glenn Whitman, former captain and number one player at Harvard University. Other players included Len Bernheimer, a top ranked amateur who previously played in college at Williams, Roger Alcaly, and Bill Kaplan, captain of Harvard's varsity squash team.

Ice hockey entered the Maccabiah in 1997 with Canada winning the gold medal. The United States team was able to secure a silver place position. Ice hockey was not included in subsequent games but returned in 2013 as part of the 19th Maccabiah. The countries represented in three divisions were Canada, Israel, Russia, Ukraine and the USA. Canada won the Gold Medal in the Open Division after crushing USA 7-1. Canada also won the Gold Medal in the Juniors Division defeating USA 3-2. USA, however got some payback in the Masters Division as they defeated Canada 7-4, winning USA's first ever Gold Medal in Maccabiah Ice Hockey history.

Chess has been recognized as a sport and was included in the 2nd Maccabiah.[3] During the 50s and 60s chess disappeared from the games. Chess was renewed at the 10th Maccabiah in 1977 and has grown considerably ever since. In the 17th Maccabiah, a Super-Tournament took place.[4]