The Turkish Shirt

Here's the orange shirt from Turkey (see earlier blog entry for explanation).

Some more pictures

Here's some great shots from the last few days. Keep checking Abby's facebook page as well for more pictures as it's easier to upload bulk to facebook.

We've been able to spend a few hours with Elana, but that's it. She really wants to spend her time with her new friends from many countries (most noteably Australia), so she sheepishly asked if could just see us when she gets home. What can I say?

More pictures are on facebook

Just put a bunch of Opening Ceremonies pictures on Abby's facebook page. Event finals were this morning and while Elana did not compete, she was there to support. USA picked up three more silvers and a bronze.

Here a short video of most of the team just after results this morning. Enjoy!

USA Takes Silver!

Trailing only the Israeli Junior national team, the US Team took silver this morning in the team competition. Elana finished 9th overall! It was neck and neck with Israel going into the final rotation, but Team USA faced the dreaded balance beam (which took it's toll), and Israel was vaulting. All in all, a good day. Better pictures and more details to follow when I get a few more minutes. Off to dinner...

Opening Ceremonies

It's very late here (12:38am), but here's some pictures from an overwhelming opening ceremonies tonight. I can't explain the feeling of watching your daughter walk into a stadium full of people representing the the United States. Abby and I were both in tears. The ceremonies were amazing with a surprisingly high production value. Oh, and lest I forget to mention that we watched a young man from Turkey take off his shirt and give it to Elana, which she then wore for the rest of the night. She may now be married...

Competion early tomorrow. More then... and more pictures but I have to get to sleep.

We're here!

It is certainly a long journey, but we are here in the Holy Land. Holy sh....

Some pictures from our first day include the hotel and a great dinner on the water in Tel Aviv. The big news, however, is that Elana is one of three that will be competing in all four events tomorrow! This was the coach's decision as only 5 of the 6 compete on each event and the top four scores count. Regardless of what happens, we are all very proud already.

Opening ceremonies tonight, so I will have pictures of that and the competition tomorrow. More picures on Abby's facebook page.

Feel free to post comments or email me. My blackberry is working great! dmolotsky@lawsgr.com

Update July 9th - Where's Waldo?

We have spoken to Elana regularly who is EXHAUSTED! They have them running like lunatics but she is having a "great" time. They have seen most of the major sites including the Wall, Yad Vashem, Masada, and the Dead Sea, and have been out until 1o and 11 at night before starting over at 6:15am for practice the next day. A few days of relaxation are on tap now as they gear up for the games to start on Monday. Thank God for Shabbat! First day of competition is Tuesday.

Where's Waldo? Maccabi USA has posted hundreds of pictures at http://www.maccabiusa.com/. There is a link on the main banner at the top of the page next to the pictures (It says "18th Games Photos now available"). Elana is in exactly 4. I only see her in two, but Abby says she's in the background of some of the Bat Mitzvah ceremony group shots. Anyone who finds her in any other shots wins a prize! The two clear shots are in the posed team pictures under "open sports". You can then click on the junior girls gymnastics to see her and the others in their competition leotards.

We leave in two days to join her! I'll have pictures and video once we get there. Stay tuned.