Tel Aviv, 12 October – During his visit to Israel, which concluded a tour in the region (Amman and Ramallah), the President of the International Olympic Committee Dr. Jacque Rogge awarded the IOC Trophy to the Wingate Institute , the Israeli Academy for Sport & Excellence

Professor Israel Borovitz, Chairman of the Wingate Board of Trustees, and Dr. Ruthy Filtz Bornstein, Director General of the Wingate Institute, received the Trophy on behalf of the Academy.

It is the 22nd time that this Trophy is awarded in Israel. Among the receivers:

Israeli Prime Ministers the late Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak, Ariel Sharon and Ehud Ulmert, IOC member Alex Gilady, Advocate Shimon Mizrahi, Chair of the Maccabi Electra Group, and others.

The Academy for Sport Excellence, one of a kind in Israel, was established at the Wingate Institute in 1990 and is synonymous with the pursuit of excellence and achievement.

The aim is to mould young talented athletes who will form the backbone of the Junior and Senior Israeli Olympic Teams.

Currently, 130 sport-gifted boys and girls, Jews and Arabs from all socio-economic levels attend the Academy. They all board at Wingate and train in 8 sports judo, swimming, tennis, table- tennis, volleyball, basketball and triathlon.

Along with the emphasis on quality and professional training, these athletes must also be good students and able integrate into a boarding school environment.

During their stay, these youngsters are also required to contribute to the community by instructing and tutoring other youngsters in an active sport discipline practiced at the Academy, not neglecting the subject of good citizenship.

Among its graduates, the Academy boasts various Olympic athletes:

Swimmers: Ethan Orbach, Miki Halika, Ania Gostamelsky, Gal Nevo  and Guy Barneha

Tennis Players: Yoni Erlich and Andi Ram

Judokas: Yoel Rezbozov, and Alice Schlesinger.

In his address, Dr. Rogge said: “In todays society, it is increasingly obvious that sport has an important place and role in a healthy lifestyle for the well-being of the youth of the world.

Therefore, increased access to basic physical activity, as well as to high-level training, is essential.

This is clearly the concern of an Institute like yours, which takes upon itself the responsibility of educating, sharing knowledge, and building the minds of today’s students, who will be tomorrows leaders, experts, coaches and educators.

Together we must continue to encourage young people to participate in sport and physical activity, thereby contributing to their overall well-being.”