STAMFORD – The Stamford Jewish Community Center and the City of Stamford have announced the selection of Stamford as one of three cities in North America to host the 2016 JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest, which will be held August 7 – 12. St. Louis, Mo. and Columbus, Ohio were also chosen. This is the second time in nine years that the Stamford JCC has been selected to host the Games.

More than 1,000 Jewish teens from across the country and the world, are expected to participate in the Games, a weeklong sporting competition for Jewish teen athletes, as well as ArtsFest, an experience for creative Jewish teens, featuring workshops in a variety of specialties with some of the leading artists in each field.

“The Jewish Community Center is thrilled that we have been selected as the 2016 host and that this prestigious event will be coming to Stamford,” said Eric Kohler, CEO of the Stamford JCC. “We are looking forward to working with the Stamford community and surrounding areas of Fairfield County to make the Games and ArtsFest a huge success and a rewarding experience for the teens who will be taking part.”

At the JCC Maccabi Games athletes will compete in ten different sporting events: baseball, basketball, golf, tennis, inline hockey, lacrosse, soccer, swimming, table tennis, and volleyball. JCC Maccabi ArtsFest will feature programs in dance, acting/improv, culinary arts, musical theater, vocal music/Glee, rock band, visual arts and reporting. Athletes and artists will also participate in community service projects throughout Stamford.

In addition to the teen athletes and artists – who will be housed with local Jewish families – more than 1,000 local volunteers will help ensure that the week run smoothly. Most events will be held at facilities in Stamford, with a few held in surrounding towns.

“It is an honor for the City of Stamford and the Stamford Jewish Community Center (JCC) to be hosting the 2016 Maccabi Games,” said Mayor David Martin. “What a coup for our city and our JCC. We look forward to welcoming athletes from all over the world to Stamford next August and showing them the talent in our local athletes.”

The JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest are co-sponsored by the JCC Association of North America, Maccabi World Union, Maccabi Canada, and Maccabi USA/Sport for Israel.

For more information on the JCC Maccabi Games and ArtsFest, visit jccmaccabistamford.org or stamfordjcc.org, or contact Rachel Rothman at 203-487-0949 or rrothman@stamfordjcc.org.