 | |
| Host city | Tel Aviv, Israel |
|---|---|
| Nations | 23[1] |
| Debuting countries |  Brazil Chile Rhodesia |
| Athletes | 890 |
| Events | 18 branches of sports[2] |
| Opening | September 20, 1953 |
| Closing | September 29, 1953[3] |
| Opened by | Israeli President Itzhak Ben-Zvi |
| Main venue | Ramat Gan Stadium |
Eight hundred ninety athletes representing 23 countries competed in the 1953 4th Maccabiah Games, held September 20 to 29, in 18 branches of sports.[1][4][2]
Israeli President Itzhak Ben-Zvi opened the Games at Ramat Gan Stadium in Tel Aviv District, in front of a crowd of 50,000.[1] American Olympic wrestling champion Henry Wittenburg carried the US flag for Team USA.[5] At the closing ceremony Prime Minister David Ben Gurion addressed the collected athletes, saying: "Come back to us for the next Maccabiah, and bring along representatives of Romania, Hungary, and Russia," as a crowd of 50,000 cheered.[3]
- ^ a b c "2 October 1953". Jewish Post.
- ^ a b "MACCABIAH GAMES WILL START TODAY; Athletes From 23 Countries to Compete in the 10-Day Program in Israel". The New York Times.
- ^ a b "CEREMONY CLOSES MACCABIAH GAMES; U. S. Gets Most Prizes of Any Visiting Nation -- Premier Voices Hope for Future". The New York Times.
- ^ "MACCABIAH TEAM LEAVES; Jewish-American Athletes Will Compete at Tel Aviv Games". The New York Times.
- ^ "Jewish Athletes From 23 Nations Attend Maccabiah Games Opening". The New York Times.