The JCC Maccabi Youth Games is an Olympic style event held annually for Jewish youth between the ages of 13 and 16. The games were first held in 1982[1] in Memphis, Tennessee, with sponsorship by the Memphis Jewish Community Center. More than 120,000 athletes have participated worldwide.[2] The 2009 event was held in San Francisco, San Antonio and Westchester County simultaneously.[3] The Maccabi Games' aim is to foster Jewish identity while developing national interest in Olympic sport through the Jewish Community Center's affiliation with the United States Olympic Committee.[4][2] The 2011 games took place in Springfield (Massachusetts), Israel and Philadelphia. The 2012 JCC Maccabi Games were held in Houston, Rockland (New York]) and Memphis. 2013 host sites included Orange County (California) and Austin.
The following sports are contested each year.
- Baseball
- In-line hockey
- Volleyball
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Table tennis
- Dance
- Golf
- Track & field
- Lacrosse