Israeli Olympic Academy holds 24th assembly in Hadera, the Israeli coastal city between Tel Aviv and Haifa that this year celebrates 120 years since its foundation.

The event took place in the presence of Mr. Haim Avian, mayor of the city of Hadera, Mr. Zvi Varshaviak and Mr. Efraim Zinger, president and secretary general of the Israeli NOC.

During the event, the Sports Worthy Citizen awards were given out.

Opening the assembly, President Zvi Varshaviak pointed out that “the aim of the academy is to teach Olympic values and ideals, especially among the younger generations. That’s why the Olympic academy assembly takes place in a different city in Israel every year”. He went on to say that, “on July 27 2011 we will inaugurate the start to the Olympic Year, and will begin the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games.

2012 is a special year for us as we will celebrate 60 years since Israel sent its first Olympic delegation to an Olympic Games (Helsinki 1952), 40 years since the murder of our 11 athletes in Munich, and 20 years since the first Olympic medal for Israel. We aim to return from London, as in the 5 previous Olympics, with at least one Olympic medal.

We also hope to see again an Israeli female athlete on the winning podium. Since Yael Arad in Barcelona ‘92, no Israeli female athlete has indeed won an Olympic medal.

We also want to win an Olympic medal in a different sport discipline such as in Taekwondo or Gymnastics.”

During the event, a symposium on achievement and excellence in sport was held with the participation of Mr. Gili Lustig, Director of the Elite Sport Department, the Taekwondo athlete Gili Haimovich and the Wind Surfer Mayan Rafiach – the 2 gold medallists from the Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

Photograph:

From right to left: G. Lustig, G. Haimovich, H. Avitan Mayor of Hadera, M. Rafiach, Z. Varshaviak, E. Zinger and S. Buzaglo.