This summer
Jerusalem streets in the city center are covered
with displays from various countries,
with this Brazilian flag being one of the most popular.
Prince of de Ligne of Belgium,
told RJS that his wife is from Brazil.
Brazil seemed to be everywhere last week.
The 2016 Olympics are to be held in Rio, Brazil,
from August 5-21.
Reuven Rivlin hosted a Presidential send off
at Beit Hanasi, the official residence.
The Ambassador from Brazil attended along with
members of the Israeli Olympic Teams.
The participants in the 2016 Paralympic Games
to be held in Rio from September 7-18
were also honored at the event.
Dignitaries posed and smiled around
Sports Minister Miri Regev.
The largest teams in Israel’s history are heading to Rio.
Each athlete has an impressive story to tell
of dedication and training to reach their goal.
Audience members rise when the President enters,
but not the Paralympic athletes confined to wheelchairs.
One woman had a special smile,
her look was beautiful, thoughtful, determined.
I wondered what her story was.
After the event I found out.
Pascale Bercovitch, at age 17, was living in France.
She slipped on ice rushing to school to take an exam
and a train ran over her, severing both her legs.
However, she made aliyah,
volunteered in the army,
married and started a family.
48 Israeli Olympic athletes are competing
in various sports in Rio 2016.
Pascale Bercovitch,
is competing in her third Paralympic games,
in her third sport, kayaking.
If that is not enough for a double amputee,
she was 40 years old at her first Paralympics Games.
Each athlete has an impressive story.
Each Para-athlete has a story.
I had wondered about the woman,
with a radiant face and huge smile,
but never could I have imagined such a story.
Her positive attitude shows us how one
can succeed in Olympic proportions.
All the best to to Pascale,
and all the other athletes off to Brazil.
What a story. It’s like Oscar Wilde said, we are all in he gutter but some of us are looking up at the stars. Renews my faith in the human spirit.
Pingback: Die israelischen Olympioniken für Rio 2016 | abseits vom mainstream - heplev
Pingback: Jerusalem: Summer Scenes | The Real Jerusalem Streets