Israel Active

Israel’s Andrey Medvedev won the bronze medal in the vault event at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Kitakyushu, Japan. Aged 31, he was the oldest competitor in his category. He has now won six medals in international competitions, including two golds.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Team Israel Start-Up Nation professional cycling team on returning to Israel after a two-year absence because of COVID-19. The cyclists spoke of their season, with 17 victories, including at some of the world's biggest cycling tournaments.

Israel’s Lonah Chemtai Salpeter came fifth in the recent London Marathon. She finished the race with a time of 2:18:54, just over a second after the first-place winner.

Israel’s Eurovision song contest winner Netta Barzilai sang at the L.A. Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors game at the Staples Center on the first night of the Jewish Festival of Lights. After the game, the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, hosted a candle-lighting ceremony.

The thriller “Teheran”, produced by Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, won Best Drama Series at the prestigious 2021 International Emmy Awards. The show streams on Apple TV+ and the cast and crew includes Israelis and Iranians. The second season of the series is currently in production.

Israel’s Amit Burstein, 17, won the Jiu-Jitsu World Cadet Championships in Abu Dhabi, UAE. In 2019, Israel’s 21-year-old Nimrod Ryeder won the gold medal in the Under 77kg adult category (see previously). An application has recently been made to make Jiu-Jitsu into an Olympic sport.

The Wingate Institute in Netanya, Israel was the venue for the FINA Women’s Water Polo World Junior Championships. Israel finished the competition in a creditable 7th place overall.

A new episode of HBO’s “Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel” focused on Amar’e Stoudemire and his transformation from NBA star to Israeli citizen to Orthodox Jew..

If you haven’t yet read Israeli American actor and producer Noa Tishby’s new book, please try to obtain a copy of “Israel: A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth.”.

Tourists can now return to Israel and here are 25 places to visit free of charge.