Under-21 Championship Final and Tomorrow
The marathon of big events over the past two weeks,
Jerusalem Lights, Formula 1 Road Show,
and Hebrew Book Week, have ended.
Though it also began the beginning of June,
the UEFA Under-21 Championship Finals are still going.
The Israel-England game that was played at Teddy Stadium
attracted over 22,000 soccer (football) fans.
Many former Brits living in Israel were conflicted,
so they cheered for both sides.
Though Israel won, they still did not go on to the next round.
In the middle of Ben Yehuda Square,
usually the scene of street musicians,
this Under-21 Championship set-up appeared instead.
Playing this soccer game did not seem like the best exercise,
and gotta love these active sportsmen.
But I was glad I came back later
to see that some young people were actually kicking soccer balls
and some were using their heads.
Look out world,
here comes another generation of Israeli soccer players.
The European soccer championship game,
Italy vs. Spain, is being played tonight at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem,
Spain could win back to back victories.
Update final score: Italy 2- Spain 4.
At the same time, at the Jerusalem International Convention Center
is the opening of #Tomorrow13, the Israeli Presidential Conference.
5000 delegates have come from around the world to attend.
Tonight is a huge 90th birthday celebration
for Israeli President Shimon Peres, with Dr. Barbara Streisand,
(she got an honorary doctorate from Hebrew University yesterday),
former President Bill Clinton, Prince Albert of Monaco
and other celebrities, like Robert Di Nero.
It is harder to get a ticket than to the Barak Obama’s speech in Jerusalem!
But I wonder which event will have more home viewers?
So much happening on the streets of Jerusalem,
you do not have to be here to see the diversity!
Jerusalem Formula One – Peace Road Show Photos
Jerusalem came to a stop for two days,
as thousands upon thousands of people came to see,
this Ferrari Formula One race car.
Some people paid a fee and sat in the stands constructed for
the Jerusalem Formula One Peace Road Show.
Special video cameras recorded the event,
which was projected on screens at several locations along the track.
Several Ferrari GT Challenge
sports
cars
and a black Lotus LMPZ zoomed around the track.
Each lap took these cars around two minutes,
but this was a show, not a race.
Many residents were furious that so many streets were closed,
but people came early and from all over to find a good spot.
Large crowds could be found
at every one of the free vantage points,
from high on top of walls of The Old City
to along the street across from the Liberty Bell Park.
Huge crowds lined the track both days.
Remember that guy on top of the bus stop?
The only “action” from the sports cars,
a deliberate smoke producing spin took place in front of us.
He had the front row seat and got the shot
and it was so loud, I still do not have normal hearing in one ear.
The Formula Peace Road show was promoted for the racing cars,
but there were also motorcycles,
and by all accounts the show stopping favorite
was the dare-devil stunt routine of Chris Pfeiffer on a BMW 6800R.
And as always, I thought that the police horses were beautiful.
Was this Jerusalem Formula Peace Road Show
worth all the inconvenience?
Getting stuck on the inside of the track,
it took me over an hour to walk what is normally a ten minute distance.
One girl I saw was literally in tears trying to get to her destination.
Some loved it, some thought it was a total waste of time.
I do know, it was a very diverse crowd and there was no violence.
And Italian race car drivers,
Ragazzi Riccardo (left) who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 430
and Daniel Mancinelle who drove a Ferrari GT Challenge 458
were very excited and happy to be in Jerusalem for the first time.
And I know a lot more about race cars.
Who would have thought that would happen in Jerusalem, Israel !
More photos on The Real Jerusalem Streets Facebook page, HERE.
And Ferrari video from on the car, and more see HERE.