More than 1,100 Jewish sportsmen and women will take part in the sixth Maccabiah International Games opening here next week under the auspices of President Izhak Ben-Zvi, Pierre Gildesgame, chairman of the Maccabi World executive, announced here today, Mr. Gildesgame told the press that some 800 athletes will come from 26 countries abroad while 300 Israelis will join them in 17 different sporting events.
The largest contingent from abroad will come from the United States with more than 130 sportsmen and officials. Next in size is the South African delegation with 88 athletes, and England with 80. Other countries participating include Italy with 48; Brazil and France with 46 each; Canada, 42; Switzerland, 35; the Netherlands, 34; Argentina, 29; Belgium, 26; Sweden, 23; Mexico, Finland and Austria, 22 each; Denmark, 21; Chile, 18; Australia, 16; Rhodesia and Uruguay, 12 each; India, 9; Eire and Guatemala, eight each; and the smallest contingent consists of one man, a tennis player from Katanga, the Congo.
The athletes will be housed in Maccabiah village built on the pattern of Olympic village. It can accommodate 500 athletes. The remainder will be distributed in hotels throughout the Tel Aviv vicinity. The Maccabiah Games will be held for the first time under the auspices of the Olympic Committee which gave Maccabiah an Olympic standing. Observers from the International Sports Association will be here to observe the games.
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