Israeli delegates were showered with the Filipinos’ world-class hospitality when they arrived in the country for the 3rd FIG Artistic Gymnastics Junior World Championships.

Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh expressed gratitude for the warm welcome given by the Filipinos, saying that seeing their athletes perform their hearts out for the world to see is truly heartwarming.

Considered as a global powerhouse, Israel deployed a four-man squad composed of Noam Berkovic as well as female gymnasts Sivan Shamay, Ophir Shmuely and Nizan Zaidman-Navy.

They are favored to win gold medals and add to the glory that Artem Dolgopyat had given them when he clinched two gold medals in the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

“It’s phenomenal to see those gymnasts, which is our future, in the heart of Manila, in the heart of the capital of the Philippines, showing so much professionalism and passion for the sport. I think that it’s very moving for us and brings us a lot of pride,” Kursh told DAILY TRIBUNE in an interview.

“We can look at it from the fact that they were competing exactly after the Egyptians, which is our neighbor, that we reached peace with them only in 1978, which was a few years back, but to see the friendship as a competitor on one hand, but friends and neighbors on the other hand, something very, very important, and I think that sport can connect all of us.”

Ilan Gazit, an Israeli coach and a judge for the Junior World Championships, getting a warm welcome from the Filipinos is a breath of fresh air, especially after they were denied entry in Jakarta for the 53rd World Championships last October due to their growing conflict with other Muslim countries.

“We couldn’t participate in Indonesia and it was very devastating. On the contrary, when we came here in the Philippines, it was the best place. The people are friendly as Ambassador Dana said,” Gazit said, adding that it’s heartbreaking to see their star player, Dolgopyat, being denied a chance to bring glory to his country in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in Asia.

“We are happy with this final. We experienced a gold medal in Tokyo thanks to Dolgopyat and a silver in Paris.”

For Berkovic, he is looking forward to competing with local bet Karl Eldrew Yulo for the gold of the boys’ floor exercise on Sunday.

“This is the first time I will compete against other people not from Europe, like the Philippines and the United States, in the same final. I hope to do my best,” said Berkovic, who finished in third place in the floor exercise with a score of 14.000 points.

“Let’s see, because in the final, everything starts from zero.”