JDC ORGANIZES JERUSALEM'S SECOND ANNUAL SENIOR OLYMPICS

More than 350 participants to compete in two-day event highlighting the positive side of aging

New York---The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and its partners are making final preparations for the second annual senior citizens Olympics, which will take place in athletic venues throughout Jerusalem on November 7 and 8. The event, co-sponsored by JDC, the Municipality of Jerusalem and the Association of Community Centers was created to demonstrate that age is not a barrier to rigorous physical competition and to encourage seniors to remain physically active. Officially called "SABA" (the Hebrew acronym for Sport, Health, Quality of Life), the senior Olympics will include competitions in running, discus, javelin, shot put, swimming, tennis, cycling, table tennis, lawn bowling and badminton. Last year, more than 350 participants competed in SABA, including the Shefa brothers, who are among Europe's top swimmers over 60. A 91-year-old distance runner was one of the other highlights from the 2004 games. JDC expects the number of participants to increase this year in a field that will also include seniors from the Arab sector. "SABA was created to highlight the positive side of aging and improve the general image of the elderly in Israel," said JDC spokesman Joshua Berkman. A study released earlier this year by the Myers-JDC-Brookdale Institute found that Jews have the world's highest proportion of senior citizens. More than 11 percent of all Israelis are at least 65 years old. In Israel, JDC's ESHEL project has established itself as one of the world's top innovators in developing services that allow senior citizens to live vigorously, independently and with dignity. ESHEL's model of supportive communities, where seniors empower one another and benefit from services provided by neighborhood volunteers, has been replicated throughout the world. "JDC is committed to remaining on the cutting edge in developing new models for senior living," Berkman said. "SABA is part of a bigger picture. Israel has a higher proportion of seniors than any other nation in the world, and it is vitally important that Israeli society continues to value its elderly. "Senior citizens have so much to contribute to Israel and the Jewish world; we want to ensure that they can remain active and independent for as long as possible."