This morning (Wednesday) Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation received the 2020/21 ‘Shield of Honor’ award from Israel President, Reuven Rivlin, at a ceremony which took place at the President’s residence in Jerusalem.
Since the 2014/15 season the ‘Shield of Honor’ award is presented by the Israel President to top-flight clubs for ethical and educational activities in the community – tackling issues such as violence and racism in football grounds.
Since the 2014/15 season the ‘Shield of Honor’ award is presented by the Israel President to top-flight clubs for ethical and educational activities in the community – tackling issues such as violence and racism in football grounds.
Maccabi CEO, Sharon Tammam, who attended the ceremony together with midfielder Avi Rikan and Foundation representatives Yonit Nakari and Heli Amzaleg – received the award on behalf of the club from the Israel President.
Amongst the committee’s reasoning for awarding Maccabi the ‘Shield of Honor’ were the support of ‘Educating for Excellence’, Old Age Pensioners, Holocaust survivors, Lone Soldiers as well as supporting various other populations who were hit hard during the COVID pandemic. In addition, over the past two years the club has set a high value threshold in dealing with extraordinary incidents involving players and fans”.
The club’s CEO, Sharon Tammam, accepted the award and said: “Maccabi Tel Aviv FC and the Maccabi Tel Aviv Foundation would like to thank the Israel President, Reueven Rivlin, and the committee for winning the ‘Shield of Honor’ award.
The vision of the Foundation which was initiated several years ago inspired by the club’s owner, Mitch Goldhar, is channeling the positive energy of football for intense activity in a bid to create a significant social change. The past year was extremely challenging especially in view of the COVID pandemic as well as the latest security situation. But through the extensive activity of the Foundation and the devotion of fans who became ‘active players in the community’ we managed to create several projects in order to support all the echelons of the population that required help and support. This is a great opportunity to thank all the loyal fans who devoted themselves and joined the Foundation’s activities, the first-team players, and the various sponsors and commercial partners who kept supporting the Foundation’s various activities over the years.
The timing for receiving such an award during these challenging days is binding us all to continue highlighting the importance of sport as a bridge between people, religions and cultures, as well as the importance of eradicating violence and racism from Israeli society”.
In his opening words that began the ceremony, Israel President, Reuven Rivlin, said: “This stage where the ‘Shield of Honor’ is being awarded and Israeli Sports receives a boost of hope, was supposed to have taken place at a larger and more festive format. Due to security issues and in view of the severe internal conflict we are currently in, the event today became an emergency one. We must not allow the extremists dictate the tone and paint Israeli society as well as Israeli and sport and football in colors of racism and hate. This is not the sporting spirit. I am delighted and feel proud to stand here today as I know that everyone who is present here shares this understanding. Together with many others who succeeded in making a difference, not only in the local sports culture but in Israeli society in general. We would like to continue congratulating and strengthening you for the hard work, the sporting spirit and the hope you create in the hearts of everyone. Massive hope – Israeli hope”.
The awards ceremony took place at President’s Residence in Jerusalem as part of the “We all share the same pitch” event that was staged in a bid to send a message that Israeli Sports is a mirror to Israeli society and the Jewish-Arab partnership. The event was attended by Minister of Culture and Sport, Hili Tropper, IFA Chairman, Oren Hasson, IPFL CEO Nicholas Lev, the Umm al-Fahm Mayor Dr. Samir Sobhi Mahamed, and several key officials from the Israeli sports world such as club owners and club in the community representatives.
