Still takes my breath away

The opening ceremony of the 18th Maccabiah was a site to be seen. I can't upload pictures right now because the hotel internet is being cranky, but you can just imagine what it was like to be in the staging area and in the stadium as all the insanity consumes you. Even though this is my second Games in Israel, I was so moved as we walked into the stadium with all the cheering spectators and the music and the “pomp and circumstance” that accompanies an event like this.

Like most things, the “hurry up and wait” mentality really applied. We stood in “rows of eight” for more than an hour and then just mulled around the athlete’s area on the field with no real sense of direction until the formal ceremony began. Even so, you get wrapped up in the energy of it all and those things don’t seem like such a big nuisance in perspective.

Our “issues” with the bowl continued today. After Sunday’s phone calls from the center management to all the team management saying there was money due for our games, the team managers met in the morning to discuss how to handle things. They had found out that it would be 20 shekels a game (about $5), with no free third game and 15 minutes of practice. Everyone who bowled would have to pay in advance and was strongly encouraged to get a receipt.

While getting a receipt is always a good practice no matter where you are, this kind of mistreatment is unacceptable. I decided not to bowl – lest I should give that center any of my money – and have consciously decided not to spend any money there at all. Call it a silent protest, though I haven’t been so silent about it. This is supposed to be a world-class athletic event, and this is not how you treat athlete, whether they are bowlers or swimmers or thumb wrestlers. Hopefully, we’ll be able to make inroads so that these things don’t continue to impede on the focus and enjoyment of future bowlers at future Maccabiah events.

Now the real fun begins, as we kick off with an Official Practice session and Ten-Pin Bowling Opening Ceremony tomorrow … and then we get down to business with Singles on Wednesday and Doubles on Tuesday. See you at the bowl.