The success of the Israeli baseball team at this year’s Olympics could spark renewed interest in the sport in the country, where baseball has little presence, several players said ahead of their Olympic debut this week.
In a video press conference held in Tokyo for Israeli media on Tuesday, players Tal Erel and Shlomo Lipetz – two of only four players in the 24-player squad who were born in Israel – said they would like to see baseball gain popularity in their country.
“One of our hopes in winning a medal is to increase the sport’s presence in Israel,” said Lipetz, noting that baseball was well represented in the countries Israel will face in the tournament.
Receive our daily edition for free by email so you don’t miss out on the best of news Free registration!
“If you fly to the Dominican Republic, South Korea, Japan or the United States, every few miles there is a baseball field, there are leagues, and in Israel there is no doesn’t, ”he said.
Erel said the team’s success at the Tokyo Olympics would help “create more fields and more infrastructure for baseball to really thrive in Israel.” Lipetz said that if the sport starts to gain popularity, “we can attract athletes from other sports to baseball, and show young players that there is a path to success, whether it’s in college.” in the United States or in the professional leagues or the Israeli national team ”.
Israeli sports journalist Maya Ronen, who is in Tokyo for the Israel Sports Channel, told Times of Israël before he left for Japan that most Israelis did not know about baseball.
Israel baseball players for the Olympics at Salt River Fields Spring Training Center on May 12, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Credit: AP Photo / Matt York)
“No one here can say he grew up with baseball,” she said. “But I think there is an incredible opportunity for visibility… if there is a major success for the team, imagine what that will do for baseball in Israel. It could cause a revolution. “
The Israel baseball team will make their Olympic debut on Thursday against South Korea. The next day, the team faces the Americans, and those games will determine next week’s fixtures when the playoffs begin. The team – largely made up of naturalized American Jews – had a Cinderella-worthy journey to the Olympics, as they were one of only six teams to qualify. This year marks the first time that Israel has sent a baseball team to the Games, and the first time since 1976 that Israel has qualified for team sport at the Olympics.
“Our excitement is at its peak here in Tokyo, two days before the first game. We had excellent training which really proved our level, ”said Erel. “Just as we have proven ourselves in the past, we are ready to prove ourselves at the highest level of the world at the Olympics. “
Peter Kurz, the team’s general manager, said the players are more than ready to step onto the pitch.
“This is not the first time that we have participated in an international competition – we have participated in several competitions so far – and the Olympics are essentially a big international competition,” said Kurz.
Israel baseball players for the Olympics at Salt River Fields Spring Training Center on May 12, 2021, in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Credit: AP Photo / Matt York)
And with six teams vying for three medals, Israel has a great chance of landing on the podium on their Olympic baseball debut.
“There is always a chance to get a medal,” Kurz said. “We didn’t come here to hang out with the Israeli delegation and play cards. We came here to win, and to get a medal for the State of Israel. This is the goal, and we will achieve it. “
Although Israel is seen as an underdog in this tournament – betting puts it furthest from the gold medal – the team are confident in their abilities.
“We play against some of the best teams in the world,” Eric Holtz, the team’s head coach, said in English, “but we feel pretty confident. We’ve got ready and we’ve got some great baseball players – we’ve been doing our work in the backroom to get ready, we’ve done a lot of scouting over the past couple of months, so we’ll be ready to play with n ‘ no matter what team we enter the field with ”.
The morale of the players is high before their first game at the Games.
“We are ready and we know what we are capable of achieving,” Erel said.
“The games start on Thursday, and we expect a win,” added Lipetz. “I think our chances are good; many of our teammates have an international background, a professional background. “
Lipetz noted that in 2017 Israel beat the South Korean team in the World Baseball Classic – “and their team was stronger then than it is now, and our team is better now than it is. was then ”.
“Mentally and physically,” he said, “we’re on a level playing field with most of the other teams. “
