Peled: Maccabiah not far off Olympics

Israel will have the largest delegation with 2,000 athletes while the 1,100-strong USA squad is the largest group from overseas.

The event will feature 150 participants who have competed at the last two Olympics. American gymnast Aly Raisman, a double gold medallist at London 2012, will give a demonstration performance.

Yakov Toumarkin, who finished seventh in the 200m backstroke in London, will carry Israel’s flag, but the organizers are not revealing who will be given the ultimate honour of lighting the Maccabiah flame.

This Maccabiah will be focused on Jerusalem with the closing ceremony also at Teddy Stadium on July 30. Most of the participants and the majority of the 20,000 supporters, made up of friends and relatives of the athletes, will stay at hotels in Jerusalem.

Mayor Nir Barkat said: "The Maccabiah caps a great year for sport in Jerusalem with the European under-21 football championships, a Formula 1 race, a new stand just finished at Teddy Stadium, and a new basketball arena nearing completion."