What has become an annual big cycling event in many parts of the world, the Gran Fondo (meaning a short to long distance, organized, mass-participation cycling event) looks like becoming the next big sports event in Israel.

Whether you’re a tourist or a local, pro or amateur, test yourself on this amazingly scenic, mountainous route. There will also be mechanical and medical support areas, feed zones and even traffic halted at intersections to let you pass (just in case you were worried about those Israeli drivers…).

There are three main options for Gran Fondo Israel:

• The short route: Gilboa to Hamat Gader (next to the Sea of Galilee) – good for all levels
• The medium route: Hamat Geder to Mount Hermon
• The full route: Gilboa to Mount Hermon

Total riding ascent is 3200 meters over 169km!

Last date for registration is 8th April. Entrance fees start at 280 shekels for the short route, and 445 shekels for the full route all the way to the Hermon. For full details, see the Facebook registration page.

From 1st to 4th February, at the Municipal Tennis Club in Eilat, 15 nations will be battling it out for a slot in the World Group II (and losers will be battling to avoid being relegated to the Europe/Africa Zone Group II).

The outdoor round-robin tournament will be open to tennis fans from 10:00 and 16:00 every day, tickets setting you back 50 shekels for the morning session, and 60 shekels for the afternoon sessions.

The nations involved are split into four pools:

• Pool A: Estonia, Austria, Bulgaria
• Pool B: Sweden, Hungary, Greece, Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Pool C: Netherlands, Great Britain, Israel (including Israel’s top player Shahar Peer), Portugal
• Pool D: Poland, Romania, Croatia, Luxembourg

May the best ladies win!

For more Federation Cup news, see the official site: www.fedcup.com

And if you’re heading to Eilat, don’t miss our guide to the best things to see and do in Eilat!

Some 1000 runners are expected, with some 600 believed to be running the full 42km. Most are coming from the United States, the UK, France, Italy and Germany, but there’s a truly international flavor with entrants also from Indonesia, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, China, Brazil, Argentina and Peru.

If you still haven’t registered, be aware that early registration (meaning a reduced fee) remains open until January 15^th.

The Jerusalem Development Authority (JDA), working together with the Tourism Ministry and EL AL, has created a tourist package for both domestic and foreign participants and their families.  The package includes discounts and promotions for hotels, restaurants, museums and leading Jerusalem attractions.

Ilanit Melchior, JDA Tourism Director had this to say:

Last year we welcomed over 1000 runners from 40 different countries; we are looking forward to once again showcasing Jerusalem as not only a place for pilgrimage, but as a tourism destination overflowing with sporting, cultural, family and nightlife attractions.  This is a unique opportunity – a marathon that truly touches the mind, body and soul.

And runners pound the streets for a good cause: several charities are set to benefit from the event, with organizations such as the Israel Cancer Society, Shalva, and Zichron Menachem set to be represented, and interest from many more.

For further details on registration and the route, visit www.jerusalem-marathon.com.

These Night Runs have become very popular, and the Jerusalem Night Run promises to be another one for runners to get their running shoes all polished up for!

And what’s not to like about a Jerusalem Night Run, as you pound round the walls of the Old City in the cool Jerusalem air, lights a-glowing and amazing ancient history just a step away…

The Night Run will take place on 12th December at 20:00 and is a competitive race over 10km. But of course, those just doing it for the fun are more likely to outnumber the professionals. The Night Run is also a great chance for those taking part in the Jerusalem Marathon on March 16 2012 to get in some practice.

The Jerusalem Night Run is being organized by the guys behind the Israel Marathon and the sports department of the Jerusalem Municipality.

Register here.

Jerusalem is certainly the place to be in December – all through the month its Hamshushalayim, and is a must-see for those celebrating Christmas (AND it’s just 10km from Bethlehem…)

The 500 square meter rink opened up last Thursday (March 10th) and will be open until April 14th. All are invited, as long as you’re older than 6, between the hours of 10:00 and 23:00. I’m taking a really wild guess and predicting this place will be packed during the upcoming Purim and Pessach (Passover) holidays. You have been warned.

To make your ice skating experience in Jerusalem complete, muzak will be piped over the airwaves, while there are also coffee shops and other goodies to buy inside a marquee alongside the rink. If you’re into your hockey, there will be ice hockey competitions and celebs from around the country and abroad.

The Israeli Ice Hockey Federation (NHL) will also be showing us what’s what on the ice-rink with a nightly hockey tournament over four nights.

Price to get in: Adults 40 shekels, children 30 shekels.

Get your skates on!

Thursday’s draw for the Champions League groups stages, which Hapoel Tel Aviv have reached for the first time in their history, saw them draw Lyon, Benfica and Schalke. Not the biggest of the European giants they could have ended up with, but still tough, tough games.

We wish ‘em luck!

Oh yes, that is a real cracker of a goal! So damn fine it’s made it into FIFA’s final list of ten candidates for goal of 2009! Wow, not sure the guy that scored that goal, Eliran Atar, ever thought he’d be keeping company with stars like Ronaldo and Torres, but well done me old china!

FIFA’s Top Ten goals of 2009 are here. Don’t forget to vote for Eliran!

This Saturday (28th November) sees the Tour de Dead Sea, while next weekend it’s the Veolia Desert Challenge. Two big cycling events not only about the cycling; they are also aimed at bringing awareness to the environmental issues facing the Dead Sea.

The Tour de Dead Sea (I love that name!) is a race along the edge of the Dead Sea and offers three different routes for participants (all of which start from the solarium in the Ein Bokek hotel area at the southern end of the Dead Sea) :

• A 12 km family route on which to bring the kids along (from age 6 and above) which takes place along the flat hotel strip around Ein Bokek.
• A 60 km route for road and off-road cyclists, accompanied by a police and rescue vehicle escort, and plenty of “taking on liquid” stops.
• A 100 km route for the hardcore cyclists, including some steep climbs up Metzoke Dragot.

This annual race will also have plenty of fun and games for families not so keen on getting their feet wet, so to speak. Apart from the amazing scenery around the Dead Sea area (bring your camera!), there’ll be plenty of ecological activities related to the Dead Sea, arts and crafts corners, refreshments, music and more.

The Veolia Desert Challenge happens next Saturday (5th December), with lots of nice challenges for the hardcore cyclists out there:

• A night race lit up by the full moon on the night of the 4th of December (there are three different levels to choose from – 12km, 20km or 30 km).
• Mountain bike race (again, three different levels – 27km, 40km or 75km).
• The Ultimate Challenge – the longest and most challenging duathlon race in Israel (which means running and cycling).
• A non-competitive ride through 24km of prime Dead Sea scenery, including Nahal Pratzim and Sodom.

The action also kicks off at the solarium at Ein Bokek, though the fun starts for all the family at 9:30am with plenty of sporting goodness going on, including exhibitions and other free activities.

You can register for both of the above events at the www.ezharim.co.il (Hebrew only) website, or just simply turn up on the day.

Don’t forget to vote for the Dead Sea in the New 7 Wonders of Nature contest at www.new7wonders.com!

OK, so Israel teaching the Samba Kings how to play football might be a bit far-fetched. But check this out: the Brazilian government is sending over a team of its water experts to analyze how Israel has managed to conserve water. The Brazilians are apparently worried that the recent good work they’ve done in the area of conserving water (including ads that plugged peeing while having a bath, to save water of course) will go pear-shaped when the Olympics scheduled to take place in Rio in 2016 kicks off.

It seems the Brazilians are worried a thirsty and uneducated bunch of tourists might just send their water conservation program down the river, so are looking at cutting edge technological solutions, something Israel isn’t too shabby at.

I say there’s no need for technology. Just produce an ad with eye-candy supermodels, faces peeling and skin cracking, that’ll scare the public into changing their ways. I know when I saw Bar Refaeli’s face cracking away, I didn’t just stop flushing after taking a pee, I stopped peeing altogether. And I’m pretty sure I’m not alone. Many of us felt we had to save the Bar; helping conserve Israel’s water was just the cherry on top…

Here’s the ad that did it…

Whatever the future holds for Hapoel Tel Aviv in Europe this season, I’m just happy Lala got on the scoresheet again last night. He’s going to be a headline writer’s dream, you mark my words!

“Lala makes it another Tinky Winky night in Europe for Tel Aviv!”

“Lala turns Benfica into Po”

“Hapoel Tel Aviv in Lala Land!“

It’s been a fairly bleak couple of weeks on the Israeli football scene, what with the national team throwing away any chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup and Maccabi Haifa getting stuffed by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

But tonight, Hapoel Tel Aviv played Celtic in their first round of Europa League matches. And pulled off a nice little result that’ll keep their chances alive of progressing to the next round. The Scots went ahead after 25 minutes, but hats off to Tel Aviv, they fought back to equalize and then claimed a late, late winner through Maaran Lala.

OK, Celtic aren’t the force they were a couple of years back, but still carry with them a big European reputation. And with the Celtic management putting the blame on the Tel Aviv heat, Celtic fans have already voiced their thoughts on the match on football forums, including this disgruntled fan on the BBC:

I cannot believe that one of the poorest teams I have ever seen at this level only had to put in a half decent 45 minutes to put us away…

The Israeli national team has never looked good at the best of times, with only the odd game bringing some much needed pride and, yes, even points. Unfortunately, every two years it’s the same story: Israelis are left dreaming of what might have been as another qualifying campaign comes to a grinding halt…

Now it’s down to club level and perhaps just that little more suspense (because, come on, you know what’s going to happen with the national team…). I even tried to get tickets for this game but you have to be a “real” fan (and suffer like the rest of them ALL season) to get your hands on a ticket. My wife’s nephews are going thanks to some “connections”, me, I’ll catch some of the game on TV…

Can Maccabi get something from this game? Maybe.
Will the trickery of Ribery be too much for them? Probably.
Will the renowned organizational skills of a German team be a deciding factor? Almost certainly.
Will falafel poisoning leave the German team feeling manky? Let’s hope so.
Is there just a teeny weeny chance that Israeli footie fans might be smiling after the game? I really hope so…

But, my prediction: Haifa 1 Bayern 2 (sorry guys…)