Nations participating 45 Opening city Ramat Gan | Athletes participating 4400 Main venue National Stadium | |
Debuting countries Hong Kong
Soviet Union
Singapore
South Korea | ||
The 1989 13th Maccabiah Games brought 4,500 athletes to Israel from 45 nations.
Jewish athletes from Hungary participated for the first time since World War II, Jewish athletes from Russia had been permitted,by their country,to play for the first time.
Lithuania competed in first and second games, but had to stop because of occupation by Soviet Union. In 1989 Lithuania reentered the games and it was the first time after occupation when athletes from Lithuania participated under Lithuanian flag in competition recognized by IOC.
American Ken Flax won the gold medal in the hammer throw with a 78.86 meter toss. Israeli Ron Kaplan won a gold medal in the gymnastics individual all-around competition.
Israel won 97 golden medals, while United States finished second with 74 golds.
The closing ceremony was held at the Western Wall in Jerusalem for the first time.