Sport in Israel plays an important role in Israeli culture and is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Sport. The most popular sports in Israel have traditionally been Association football (mainly) and basketball (secondly) – with the first being considered the national sport – in both of which Israeli professional teams have been competitive internationally. Israel is an international center for Jewish sport around the world and since 1932 the Maccabiah Games, an Olympic-style event for Jewish athletes, is held in the country. Despite Israel's location in the Asian continent, the Israeli sports associations in various sports belong to the European associations due to the refusal of many Arab Asian countries to compete with Israeli athletes.
Shahar Pe'er, winner of Israeli tennis championship, 2008
Juniors rowing at the Daniel Rowing Centre
Sammy Ofer Stadium of Haifa, home of Maccabi Haifa, Hapoel Haifa, and the Israel national team
Hapoel Jerusalem
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team represents Israel in men's international football, and is governed by the Israel Football Association. They have been members of the European Confederation UEFA since 1994.
Israel winning the 1964 AFC Asian Cup
1970's Israel national team at the Bloomfield Stadium of Tel Aviv, Israel
Ronny Rosenthal playing for Israel at the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification (Oceania) against New Zealand
Avram Grant has been one of the youngest official head coaches of Israel.