Jewish youth groups in the host cities work for months to produce welcoming festivities that feature live music, dancing and other celebrations in honor of the visiting athletes. Kids in braces grin from the screen, flashing high-fives, waving and joking around. It's a big tradition for the kids to trade souvenir jackets and memorabilia. The registration table displays colorful insignia and commemorative pins. Each pin represents a year of games.
Athletes troop by to watch the videos and trade names and stories.
In the gymnasium, boys basketball coach Peter Pollat radiates enthusiasm. A dermatologist by day, Pollat has been coaching Maccabi athletes for 11 years. He and co-coach Bill Black have seen athletes use the Maccabi Games as a springboard to major athletic achievement. Every year we see former participating athletes coming back to coach. Coaches pay their own way to the games.