15 Athletes participate in a Special Olympics competition at ITC in Ashkelon

The competition was divided into two parts: the qualifiers were played in a round robin format with five players competing and the matches being played on a tie-break to 10 points. The second part of the final competition was held with the participation of the eight other athletes who completed the top eight, so that each played seven more games.

Rotem Val from the ITC Beer Sheba the best playe

Shaya Azar, director of the ITC Ashkelon and coordinator of Special Olympics tennis, summed up the competition: “It was an extraordinary experience for me. For the first time 15 athletes who participated in the competition played on a full court, the athletes encouraged each other, parents participated in the experience and assisted in judging; it was a great day for everyone involved.

I would like to thank Mahmoud Qaraeen the athletes coach from Safafa, who deserves all appreciation and credit for this event. The Jerusalem group really is coherent, encouraging, and the connection between athletes is just extraordinary. A significant improvement in the players was proved by the results of the competition.

It is important to acknowledge and give credit to the coaches who provide a great framework which enable the athletes to improve. One of the goals of the competition was also to qualify for the Olympic delegation in Greece.

A special thanks goes to Nadia Goldbetz, the program coordinator in Jaffa, for successful management of competition, and for being the coach travelling with the delegation to the Special Olympics in Greece.

Rotem Val from Beer Sheba and Yasin from Jerusalem

Winners:

First place: Muhammad Kunbar – ITC – Jerusalem.

Rotem Val – ITC- Beer Sheba

Second place: Elad Gevandschnaider – ITC Beer Sheba

Third place: Eliran Kadosh – ITC Beer Sheba

Fourth place: Tamir Segal – ITC Kiryat Shmona

Jaffar Tawil – ITC – Jerusalem.

Fifth place: Nadav French – ITC Tel Aviv

Hamza Audala – ITC – Jerusalem.

Best Player: Rotem Val – ITC- Beer Sheba

Revelation: Nuphar Asdlovsky – ITC Tel Aviv

Fair play: Tamir Segal – ITC Kiryat Shmon

Elad Gevandschnaider from the ITC Beer Sheba

Jaffar Tawil from Jerusalem

The group from Jerusalem on a break

Hamza Audala and Jaffar Tawil from Jerusalem, and in the centre Tamir Segal from Kiryat Shmona

The ITC delegation for the Special Olympics in Athens