The Olympic Committee of Israel has tough qualification criteria for the 2012 Olympics, but is hoping to bring between 40 and 50 athletes. The Israelis have strong competitors in windsurfing, gymnastics and judo.
Top prospects are judo champion Alice Shlesinger, tennis player Shahar Peer, gymnast Alex Shatilov and sailing team Era Sela and Gidi Klinger.
Israel has always been traditionally more successful in the Paralympic Games, having won a total of 113 medals, compared with just 13 in the Olympics. Its only gold medallist to date is Gal Fridman, who won for windsurfing in Athens in 2004.
Top medal hopes for the Paralympics are with the swimming and wheelchair basketball teams. Around 70 per cent of the athletes competing in the Paralympics are war wounded or victims of terrorism.
