Olympic Day Marks Three Years of Youth Sports Celebration at Meir Medical Center

International Olympic Day was marked on Thursday at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, with the Israel Olympic Committee holding its annual celebration there once again. The event is intended to highlight the role of sport in building a better society and promoting Olympic values, and this is the third consecutive year it has been dedicated to children from Meir’s children’s sports and health center.

About 130 children and teenagers took part, alongside Olympic and Paralympic athletes from a range of disciplines. The day opened with a ceremony led by Israel Olympic Committee CEO Adi Bichman and Meir Medical Center director Prof. Yaakov Hen, including a torch relay and the carrying of the Olympic flag by children together with the athletes. Participants were introduced to Olympic and Paralympic sports including fencing, judo, taekwondo, archery, lacrosse, climbing, gymnastics, and wheelchair basketball.

Athletes who joined the activities included Yuval Freilich, Ofir Shaham, Shahar Tzuberi, Shira Rishony, Itay Shani, Roy Dror, Michaela Moshe, Shamai Ymarom, Alex Khazanov, Alon Dor-On, Asaf Yasur, and Moran Samuel. All of the sports sessions were run by the athletes themselves.

Bichman said Olympic Day is a chance to remind the public that sport is more than medals and results, calling it an opportunity to connect elite sport with giving, inspiration, and community. She thanked Meir and its children’s center, led by Prof. Dani Namet, for giving children “an empowering, encouraging and inspiring experience.” Hen said Meir has been the official medical partner of Israel’s Olympic team for three decades, and that the long partnership has created an “inspiring volunteer initiative” for children. Yarden Har Lev said Meir is part of the Olympic family and that athletes have been visiting monthly for four years to train with children and serve as role models. Namet said sport teaches perseverance, determination, respect, friendship, and how to cope with success and failure.