The Olympic Committee in Israel looks back with satisfaction on the year 2022, with a record number of 24 blue-and-white medals, obtained in major events of the World and European Championships, in 10 different sports, which has never happened before and the one who is satisfied with this is the chairman of the committee, Yael Arad.
"We've had a very successful year for Israeli sports," Arad told Israel Hayom in an interview at the annual award ceremony held last night (Sunday) in Tel Aviv.
"This was the start-up year of the new Olympic cycle for the Paris 2024 Olympics. Next year, the year 2023, will open the race to the criteria and this will be the year in which the athletes who want to win a medal in the Olympic Games will have to prove themselves in the major competitions."
After such a successful year, how do you continue the ability for next year as well?
"The burden of proof will be on us next year as well. Happily, it seems that something has permeated from the Tokyo Olympics to the current campaign for Paris, because when I look at the trend - there is an improvement trend. We are in a growth trend and that is what is important. The coming year is the real test, because those who want an Olympic medal in Paris will have to To stand on the biggest podiums in the world. We prepare the athletes and convey this message to them all the time. Entering 2023 after good achievements the previous year is of course an advantage, but the most important thing is continuity."
The viewing bar will now be very high
"My expectation level is always very high. Sometimes it's stressful, but I believe that we always have to be better. That's the expectation, we always have to strive to be better. In Paris to be better, in Los Angeles to be better. We want success and that's why We look at each athlete with a precise mapping to examine whether we are giving them everything they need for them to realize their potential, we want to prepare the reserves and therefore make a strong youth project, and we are not afraid to strive to be the best in the world at every opportunity."
bronze.
At yesterday's ceremony with trooper troops, photo: Oren Aharoni
How many medals does the Olympic Committee expect in Paris?
"I want to constantly be better. In recent years, the Olympic squads have grown, the investment has increased and many psychological barriers have been broken. There are other branches that need to break the glass ceilings, because for example a medal in judo will not necessarily help bring a medal in swimming, and we will do everything in our system to help For all those branches in the progress process."
You came from judo, and in the last year we saw the progress in the women's team, when the team's coach Shani Hershko was chosen as the coach of the year and maybe we will get to see a full team in all weights in Paris, what do you say about that?
"I am happy and proud. Shani Hershko is doing an excellent job, I have followed him for many years and see his development as a coach and the realization of the ambitions he had many years ago. An excellent generation has grown, both in men and women, who have no fears or glass ceilings. In the women's team you see also the young generation that is growing up and will arrive in Paris at the right age,
get drunk
A great year, photo: Oren Aharoni
Why did you choose to hold the annual gala evening of Olympic sports in a hostel that is associated with football like Bloomfield Stadium?
"First of all, this year soccer made a great achievement in the youth team. Bloomfield Stadium is a great and fun place to host Israeli sports events, it's much more pleasant to host sports events in such a place."
You previously announced the Olympic House project, with a facility that will be exclusively for Olympic sports in the country.
Where does it stand today?
"The Olympic House is our flagship project. It is led by Yigal Karmi, the previous chairman. We are examining all the possibilities, there are several cities that have reached the finish line and we are examining it. I believe that in 2023 we will choose the city and start the process. This is not a project of A day and a quarter, it's a big project that we take seriously. We'll talk about it at the right time."
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