Israeli celebrates new year at Olympics

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Sydney: These may be the millennium games but Israeli athletes celebrated the start of the year 5761 at the Sydney Olympics on Friday.

The team said about 40 Israeli athletes and officials, and a few Jewish competitors from Canada and the United States, would see in the start of the new year according to the Hebrew calendar at a ceremony at sundown in the Olympic athletes' village.

''We will eat apples with honey,'' said team spokesman Ronen Hillel, referring to the traditional Jewish treat for a sweet new year. ''Then we are going to compete.''

Two Israeli athletes -- gymnast Or Tokayev and Kayaker Michael Koganov -- will compete in the Games on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath when observant Jews refrain from most activity.

''It's no problem. In Israel, we play football on the Sabbath,'' Hillel said.



(c) Reuters Limited.