Just a week ago, the Knesset disbanded, and perhaps now its 120 members will have some time to reach 200 meters away, to Givat Ram in Jerusalem, to watch the European Under-18 Athletics Championships, which opened yesterday in the capital.
Nearly a thousand athletes from 48 countries came to participate in one of the biggest sporting events held in Israel in recent years, with the next generation and those who will be the hottest names in the industry in the coming years, and want to register themselves in the pages of history for the first time.
The state and the Jerusalem municipality invested over NIS 55 million in renovating the stadium, which looked remarkably well-kept, when in the morning the stands were quite sparse - perhaps also due to the intense heat (over 30 degrees), but at the evening show, and at the official opening ceremony, .
And if it's already hot, the one who suffers the most from it is Chumpi, the championship mascot, behind whom lies 15-year-old Jordan Mantel, an athlete herself, who at the end of last year set the world record in the pole vault with 3.95 m, and her future even ahead of her.
"You do not know how hot it is inside, it's just crazy," she told Israel Today.
"I was the one who volunteered to be the mascot, but by and large it was to see the championship up close. I could not participate, so at least I'm on the track like that, to encourage the Israeli delegation."
Memo.
Close to a historic medal, Photo: Oren Aharoni
And now you're not sorry?
Mantel replies while laughing: "True, it's hard, but I see the reactions and everyone wants to be photographed with me, and there is also a law that every ten minutes I have to lower my head and rest. It is an amazing championship in which a lot has been invested, ".
"The organization here is great" The
person who runs the media center is the Portuguese Raquel Gomez, who has seen a thing or two in her life in sports.
She has been responsible for the athletics events at the recent Olympics and major sporting events, such as the World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships in Baku and the European Judo Championships last year hosted by her country.
"It's just amazing," Gomez said of her first arrival in Israel.
"I've been here for two days, we had time to walk and see the old city, and it was a beautiful sight. I have friends who have been here before and also a front delegation from the European Union, who told me it was an empowering experience, and I was happy to come here myself."
How is everything going so far? there are problems?
"There are no problems. There are always challenges while competing, no matter what level it is, even at the Olympics, which are organized so many years in advance. Here the organization is great and all foreign reporters and photographers have given positive feedback, and I hope it will continue in the coming days. The air doesn't have much to do, at least occasionally there is a breeze. "
The morning show was stolen by the Croatian Jana Kusak, who competes in the toughest profession for women - fight 7. The 16-year-old athlete stayed last in the competition, and when everyone went out for the lunch break - she managed to break her personal high jump four times and is currently leading the competition.
From the side, members of her delegation stood and encouraged her, and whenever she managed to cross the line - the Croatian wanted to hug each of them, until the judges scolded her to return to the competition.
Cushak.
Stolen the show, Photo: Oren Aharoni
"Israel brings us luck," said one of its friends, Zeliko.
"You have a great country, and we're happy to be here, and here we have great results, too."
Israeli Hope
The opening day of the tournament brightened the face of Noam Memo, the great hope for Israel's historic medal in the championship, when he advanced to the 800 meters final which will take place on Thursday (20:10).
The 16-year-old Memo crossed the finish line in a time of 1: 53.48 minutes, which ranked him fourth overall.
In the women's 400-meter dash, Shani Zakkai broke her personal best by 13 hundredths, setting a time of 56.28 seconds and advancing to the semifinals.
"Feeling great. I'm very happy to go up to the next level, fun to compete here with family and friends," she said.
In the men's 110m qualifiers, Eyal Uziel surprised who advanced to the semifinals with 13.92 seconds from 16th place overall.
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