Patrons' Council for 2019 Maccabi Europe Games founded

The Patrons' Council of the 15th Maccabi Europe Games to be hosted by Budapest next year held its founding session on Monday to discuss preparations for the largest multi-sport event Hungary's capital has ever seen, Tamas Deutsch, head of the council, said. The Games will be held from July 29 to August 7, with over 2,500 Jewish athletes from 30 countries competing in 29 branches of sport. For the first time in their history, two para sports -- fencing and tennis -- will also feature on the programme, he told a press conference. Athletes from non-European countries such as the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the Republic of South Africa, Australia and Israel will also be invited to the Games, Deutsch said.