The 2025 Maccabiah Games scheduled to take place in Israel in July have been canceled and postponed until 2026 as a result of the ongoing war against Iran, the Maccabi World Union announced on Monday.
It said that in consultations between the heads of Maccabi World Union and the 2025 Maccabiah, together with Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar and his staff, it was decided that due to Operation Rising Lion, the Israeli military campaign against Iran that began on June 13, “the Maccabiah, which was scheduled to officially open on July 8, 2025, will now be held in the summer of 2026.”
The statement added, “The Israeli government announced yesterday (Sunday, June 15) the extension of the national emergency until June 30, 2025, throughout the country. This decision, while important given the circumstances, directly and immediately affects the ability of the Maccabi World Union and its members to prepare safely and effectively for the 22nd Maccabiah, which was scheduled for this July.”
The 2025 Games were scheduled to be held from July 8 to 22, with more than 8,000 athletes from 55 countries gathering in Israel to compete in 45 sports all over the country.
Zohar said, “Following our operation in Iran and after numerous assessments of the situation, we have concluded that it is inevitable to postpone the Maccabiah until next year. I thank all the Maccabiah organizers for their willingness and joint efforts, the Jewish organizations around the world, and the sports unions. I am confident that we will gather here next year with a stronger and braver Israel than ever before.”
Assaf Goren, chairman of the Maccabiah, said, “Despite our strong desire to hold the Maccabiah in the summer of 2025 as a symbol of hope, we are forced to postpone it due to the complex security situation created by the attack on Iran, the instructions of the Home Front Command, the continued suspension of flights to Israel, and the necessary security measures required of all of us.”
He added, “Together with the Ministry of Culture and Sports and after considering several alternatives, we realized that although we are almost at the starting line, the most prudent step from a security, safety and logistical perspective is to postpone the event by a year to a quieter and safer time.... I am confident that we will be able to hold a truly significant Maccabiah in the summer of 2026.”
The so-called Jewish Olympics, which were launched in 1932, are held every four years and have not missed an edition since the 3rd Maccabiah in 1950. Following the 2nd Games in 1935, there was a 15-year break until after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
