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The cost of hosting 3,500 athletes for the 18th Maccabiah Games, which opened this week and will last for 10 days, totaled 16 million shekels.  This is according to a report from Rafi Shelef Tourism (International) Ltd.  Rafi Shelef, general manager of the company: “Despite the worldwide economic recession, an increase of 20 percent is expected in the number of participants, compared to the last Maccabiah in 2005.”

Rafi Shelef, general manager of Rafi Shelef Tourism (International) Ltd and responsible for the accommodation for the 3,500 athletes competing in the Maccabiah, indicated that the number of rooms reserved totaled 1,700 in about 20 hotels spread throughout the length of the country.

He revealed that alongside the 3,500 sporting competitors participating in the Maccabiah, some 15,000 additional tourists also arrived for the duration of the games, most of them family members or escorts for the athletes.

 “We have worked hard during the last two years with the hotels, signing contracts and strategic tourism agreements in order that during their stay in Israel the athletes will have an opportunity for social bonding alongside the sporting competition,” he added.

It is estimated that the 18th Maccabiah will be of great assistance to the hotel industry that has suffered greatly during the last half year, as a result of the economic crisis throughout the world and in Israel.