Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club Awarded Israeli Presidential Sports Prize

Maccabi Tel Aviv Basketball Club received the 2026 Presidential Sports Prize during a ceremony held on Sunday at the official residence of Israeli President Isaac Herzog and his wife, Michal. The award recognizes sports clubs that have excelled in social and community engagement and contributed to strengthening national resilience. The event was attended by officials including Simon Davidson, chair of the Knesset's Subcommittee on Sports, and Haim Bibas, head of the Federation of Local Authorities. The prize is part of the 'Team Play' initiative, a joint project between the President's Office, the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and the 'Values in Sport' organization. Shimon Mizrahi, chairman of the club, emphasized the importance of the link between sports and the community, noting that clubs have worked to commemorate the fallen and maintain contact with the families of hostages in recent years. President Herzog stated that sports provide a platform for equality and described the recipients as the 'beautiful face of Israel,' embodying values of mutual responsibility and community spirit.