Maccabi USA will take a 1,130-strong delegation to next month’s Maccabiah Games in Israel.

Led by general chairman Jeff Bukantz, this will be the largest travelling squad to travel from the country to compete in an International Olympic Committee-sanctioned event.

Bukantz said: "I have been absolutely humbled by the incredible work of the hundreds of volunteers who have been working diligently over the past few years to recruit and organise the squad.

"To organise a group this large, and its support staff, is just an awesome achievement."

In the region of 300 supporters, made up of friends and family, will also travel to the event which gets under way in Jerusalem on July 17.

Bukantz said: "Our sports chairmen have done an outstanding job to enable this team of Jewish athletes the opportunity to participate in the Games and experience the culture and beauty of Israel.

"As a former athlete, I know first-hand the feeling of amazement the squad will feel from the moment they step off the plane, and I am so proud to have the opportunity to march into the Opening Ceremony with such a talented group of athletes."

The delegation will feature athletes and coaches representing 37 states and playing in 31 different sports. The largest number of athletes comes from California (262) and New York (210).

Team USA includes athletes and alumni of many of the top colleges and universities in the country, including all eight Ivy League schools, MIT, Stanford and Northwestern.

Olympian Garrett Weber-Gale will participate as a member of the Open Swim team. Other professional athletes include Zach Test (Rugby 7s), Zac Rosen, Bryan Cohen and Eric Nystrom, a left-winger for the NHL Dallas Stars, will be the assistant coach for the Open Ice Hockey team.

Golfer Bruce Fleisher, who plays on the PGA Champions Tour, will coach the Open Golf team while retired NBA star Danny Schayes will coach the Masters Men’s 35+ Basketball team.