18th
Maccabiah Jewish Israel Olympics Push Web 2.0, SEO, New Media
Social Networking
By
Herb Brandon
Israel News Agency
Jerusalem,
Israel ---- July 10, 2009 ...... The 18th Jewish Maccabiah Games
in Israel are among the first leading global sports, educational
and cultural organizations to unleash the full power of new media,
SEO -search engine optimization social networking.
"The
most powerful means to reach millions of people today is through
Web 2.0," says Joel Leyden, president of the Leyden Communications
Internet Marketing Group who serves as an digital PR and international
media advisor to the 18th Maccabiah Games.
"New
media social networking applications such as Twitter, Facebook,
MySpace, Blogger, Skype and YouTube now rule the Internet. Whether
you are 18 or 80, if you are not on Facebook or checking out the
Twitter feed - you and or your organization does not exist. With
a click of a mouse, one can reach millions in seconds and we have
seen this most recently in Iran where the use of Twitter is helping
to bring about democracy in that nation. Print newspapers and
broadcast TV are rapidly declining as Net surfers interact with
one another for both personal and commercial gain."
Leyden continues:
"For the 18th Maccabiah Games, the use of social networking
is critical. There are three elements which ensure the survival
of Israel - the Israel security services, the Israel Defense Forces
and Diaspora Jews who invest in Israel either financially or through
their presence in coming to Israel. New media, SEO and social
networking enables these people to support the Maccabiah Games,
Israel and the very existence of the Jewish nation. Whether it
is to announce when an event will take place, who won that event
or just to meet friends for coffee or beer, an SEO search engine
optimized Web site, real time communications through Twitter and
Facebook make it happen."
The 18th Maccabiah
Organizing Committee today announced that in addition to embracing
SEO and new media social networking tools for public relations
and fund raising, that an updated 18th Maccabiah Website has just
been launched at www.Maccabi.org.
This Maccabi
World Union Website is providing background information on the
MWU, providing links to real time cultural, educational and sports
events and news at the Maccabiah Games through Twitter, Facebook,
Blogger, the Israel News Agency and Google News.
Michael Broukhim,
a respected Website developer from California who produced the
new 18th Maccabiah Website and Joel Leyden have joined forces
at the Kfar Maccabi Headquarters in Ramat Gan.
At least two
official Twitter feeds are now in place: maccabiah
and israelmaccabiah.
"One
must give credit to where credit is due," says Leyden."
"Eyal Tiberger, the Director General of the 18th Maccabiah
realized the value of implementing Web 2.0 social networking for
the Games. Amir Peled, the Honorary Treasurer, Jeanne Futeran,
the President of Maccabi World Union, and Nirit Harel French,
the Executive Director of the Maccabi World Union in North America
and Yaron Michaeli, the domestic public relations professional
for the Jewish 18th Maccabiah Games have been more than cooperative
in helping us Internet marketing and SEO editorial, design and
programming geeks get this new media off the ground.
This years
18th Maccabiah kicks off with an opening ceremony at the Ramat
Gan Stadium on Monday night, July 13. Three time Gold medal Olympian
swimmer Jason Lezak of the US team, will light the flame. The
Maccabiah Twitter feeds and Facebook groups expect to see unparalleled
participant activity overshadowing any event that has taken place
in Israel. JLTV will be broadcasting live sports news and features
and producing exciting videos for YouTube which will be embedded
in Web 2.0 social networking news releases and news stories from
the Maccabiah.
As the worlds
third largest sports event after the Olympics, the Maccabiah Games
plays host to 3000 junior Maccabiah athletes, aged 15 -18; 5,000
open athletes, 2,000 masters and Paralympics.
In addition to the visitors, Israel will itself be fielding a
team of more than 2,000 athletes.
From the US,
Canada, France, Argentina and Brazil to Finland, Holland, Russia,
the UK and Spain, more than 56 nations will be represented at
the 18th Maccabiah Jewish Games in Israel.
Sports for
which competitors will be going for Gold include: artistic gymnastics,
badminton, baseball, basketball, beach volleyball, bridge, cricket,
chess, fencing, golf, gymnastics, handball, half-marathon, field
hockey, judo, karate, netball, lawn bowls, rowing, rugby, squash,
soccer, softball, swimming, table-tennis, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon,
track and field, ten-pin bowling, volleyball, water polo, wrestling
and windsurfing.
"For
the first time, all Jews in all countries will be able to participate
in the Maccabiah games," says Leyden. "They will be
able to watch and comment in real time on each and every sports
event taking place in Israel. But more than that the 18th Maccabiah
will not only be bringing together 7,000 Jewish athletes from
around the world, but rather connecting millions of Jews to one
another in a majestic event which illustrates the essence of culture,
democracy and Zionism in Israel and throughout the Jewish nation."