Hartford Volleyball Coach Goes To Israel With U.S. Team

On July 18 in Jerusalem, Hartford women's volleyball coach Alex Temkin will walk into Teddy Stadium and take part in opening ceremonies for the 19th World Maccabiah Games. There will be about 10,000 athletes and coaches, and about 30,000 fans, on hand.

"It's my first international event," said Temkin, the head coach for the U.S. women's team. "It's a little nerve-racking but a rare opportunity."

The Maccabiah Games, featuring participants from 73 nations, are open to Jewish athletes worldwide and all athletes from Israel. The first games were held in 1932, an event designed to allow Jewish athletes banned elsewhere to compete in the traditional Olympic format.

Today, it is known as the third largest competition in the world, based on number of participants, behind only the Olympics and the World University Games.

After a handful of days training in New Jersey, Temkin and the U.S. volleyball team flew to Israel on Wednesday. There, they will train for another week before opening ceremonies and competition, which concludes July 30.

This quadrennial event is about more than sport, though. Athletes will participate in an Israeli Connect program that includes travel and sightseeing throughout the country during either during downtime on a competition day or days designated for religious observation.

"It's quite the event and the opening ceremonies will be a huge extravaganza," Temkin said. "It's a very collaborative experience. It gives me an opportunity to coach at the international level and it's also about [celebrating] my Jewish faith."

Temkin was hired in March, replacing Maryland-Baltimore County coach Ian Blanchard, who could not commit to the games. Temkin, entering his second year at Hartford, was previously coach at Maryland-Eastern Shore, and Blanchard suggested that he be hired. The U.S. women's team finished fourth at the 2009 games and won bronze in 2005.

"I've always followed and kept track of it, and it's just a huge honor to be asked to participate as a player or coach, to partake in the whole experience," Temkin said.

Source: http://hartfordcourant.feedsportal.com/c/34278/f/623741/s/2e7c6c77/l/0L0Scourant0N0Csports0Ccollege0Chc0Ehartford0Evolleyball0E0A7110E20A130A710A0H0A0H230A75220Bstory0Dtrack0Frss/story01.htm

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