A seven-member U.S. congressional delegation met on Tuesday with Cuban President Raul Castro, official media reported, to improve relations that have been strained since U.S. government contractor Alan Gross was imprisoned there in 2009.
A high-level European Jewish Parliament (EJP) delegation travelled to Montenegro this week for meetings with the country’s political leadership. The official visit was part of ongoing outreach efforts by the EJP to build closer ties national governments across Europe. During their Montenegro visit, EJP delegates met with Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic as well as the country’s Foreign Minister Nebojsa Kaluderovic, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Justice Dusko Markovic, and Parliamentary Speaker Ranko Krivokapic.
ראש הממשלה בנימין נתניהו ושרת הספורט לימור לבנת בקבלת פנים חגיגית למשלחת הספורטאים הישראליים למשחקים הפראולימפיים שייפתחו בסוף החודש בלונדון. צילום: לע”מ, רועי אברהם סאונד: איתמר בוטון
Earlier this week the 2012 London Olympics took off, with Israel sending 12 athletes to represent the state in several sports. It has been several days since then and thus far, no signs of gold medals just yet for the Israeli delegation. Now, Israel pursuing and obtaining medals in the Olympics, has become a tradition in the last 20 years, therefore raising the expectations this time around as well. We asked Israelis how they felt their athletes were holding up so far in the race. Were they happy or disappointed with their achievements and what they foresee for the remainder of the competition. With several days still left to the Olympic Games, final results are still in the unknown. And as one of the Israeli athletes was quoted saying- “Sometimes a little bit of luck is the only difference between success and failure.” Sivan Raviv, JN1, Israel.
As final preparations are being made in London for this month’s Olympic Games, the Israeli Olympic Committee is marking the 60th anniversary of Israel’s first participation at the Olympics in 1952, and also the 20th anniversary of the nation’s first Olympic medals, acquired in Barcelona. Now in the last 20 years since that first medal, Israel won at least one medal every Summer Olympics and Israelis are looking forward to uphold that tradition in London this year as well. However, while there is much excitement and support in Israel during the summer period when the delegation is sent to compete and represent the country, some people believe that the government does not support the athletes enough all year round. In many other nations around the world, to train as a professional athlete is a fulltime job. While in Israel, many athletes cannot afford to focus all of their attention on sports, and sustain themselves without working. Therefore taking away from the time they have to invest in their sport. Some Israelis believe that money and budgeting is the issue. While the sports arena is important to Israelis, there are so many other arenas on the agenda in this small country in the Middle-East, that athletics seem to sometimes be sidelined from government priorities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat met with the members of the Israeli Olympic delegation prior to sending them off to represent Israel in London. ‘The entire …