Melissa Perlman, founder and president of BlueIvy Communications, is the Commissioner, Coach and Athlete of the 2022 World Maccabi Games. This is Melissa’s fourth time competing in the World Maccabi Games in Israel. Melissa competed in track and field as a junior athlete in 1997 and then as a half marathon athlete in 2013 and 2017. She also competed in the European Maccabi Games in 2015 (Berlin, Germany) and 2019 (Budapest, Hungary).

The Maccabi Games started in 1932 and is the largest Jewish athletic competition and the 2nd-largest sport event in the world. The “Jewish Olympics” takes place every 4 years in Israel, and the 21st Maccabi take place on July 12th-26th, 2022 with 10,000 athletes from 80 countries competing in more than 40 sports. The Games are split into four divisions based on age and ability — open, juniors, masters, and paralympics — and feature dozens of sports. Jewish sports legends like Mark Spitz, Agnes Keleti, Kerri Strug, Isaac Berger and others have participated over the years.

Melissa is competing in the half marathon event on Monday, July 18 and is serving as head/commissioner of the Maccabi USA Endurance Team for the first time. In this role, Melissa has oversight over all of the endurance sports (including track and field, half marathon, Maccabi men/women and cycling), the appointed coaches and athletes. The team’s roster includes star high school and college athletes, elite runners, as well as masters at ages ranging from 40 to 70-something. BlueIvy COO Mark Burns is also attending the Games as a Volunteer Manager of the Masters Endurance Athletes.

“I’m thrilled to be back in Israel not only competing for the USA as part of the Maccabiah but also being a part of the leadership team,” said Perlman. “The Maccabiah is special – no matter how many times you return – and I feel lucky to share the experience with Mark and the 1400 other members of the Maccabi USA team.”

President Joe Biden will be speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Maccabi Games alongside Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and President Isaac Herzog during his 2-day visit to Israel – his first as President of the United States. The opening ceremony will take place at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem on July 14th, 2022. Entry to watch the tournaments is free. Learn more at https://maccabiusa.com/21st-maccabiah-sports-2022/.