How to watch the 2013 Maccabiah games, with or without leaving your couch

A viewing guide for fans in Israel and around the globe who want to watch the 11-day sports competition.

By Andrew Esensten 

The 19th Maccabiah Games opens on Thursday with a parade of athletes from around the world entering Jerusalem’s Teddy Stadium, followed by 11 days of exciting competition.

Below is a viewing guide for fans in Israel and around the globe who wish to follow the action.

For international viewers:

Jewish Life TV (JLTV) is the exclusive broadcaster of the Games outside of Israel. JLTV will air the opening and closing ceremonies on July 18 and 30, respectively,live and rebroadcast them during primetime in the United States (8-11 P.M. Eastern and Pacific times). Click here to see if your cable/satellite provider carries JLTV; it can also be streamed 24 hours a day for free here.

The network will air one hour of Maccabiah programming each night of the competition from 9:00P.M-10:00 P.M. Eastern and Pacific times. The programs, which will be rebroadcast the following day at various times, will spotlight athletes from Australia, Canada, Columbia, Cuba, Denmark, Great Britain, Gibraltar, Guinea Bissau, India, Israel, South Africa and the United States. Results from the day’s events will appear in an on-screen ticker.

Decisions about which events to carry live will be made as the Games progress. Check the JLTV website for updates.

For viewers in Israel:

Channel 1 will broadcast the opening and closing ceremonies live. Coverage of the opening ceremony will begin at 8:30 P.M., while coverage of the closing ceremony will begin at 9:00 P.M. Video highlights from the Games will air at 9:15 P.M or 9:30 P.M. each night (check your listings) and will be available on demand on the Israel Broadcasting Authoritywebsite.

Viewers in Israel can also stream JLTV’s coverage of the Games, as detailed above.

For those who wish to attend Maccabiah events in person, tickets to the opening and closing ceremonies can be purchased here. Entrance to the competitions is free. Click here for the full schedule of the 19th Maccabiah Games: