Collapsed Yarkon River bridge (Archives)
Photo: GPO
Son of Maccabiah disaster victim to compete in 2009 games
Josh Small, whose father Greg was killed in 1997 when hastily-built bridge leading to Ramat-Gan stadium collapsed, says he's talking part in this year's games 'to complete dad's journey'
Twelve years after his father was killed in a bridge collapse at the 1997 Maccabiah Games, tenpin bowler Josh Small will compete at this year's version of the games which begin Monday in Israel.
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On July 14, 1997, competitors and officials were set to enter Ramat Gan stadium for a gala opening ceremony of the games, which bring Jewish athletes from around the world to Israel every four years.
But a hastily-built bridge leading to the stadium buckled, dumping the Australian delegation into the polluted Yarkon River near Tel Aviv, killing four Australians and injuring more than 70. Greg Small, also a bowler, was among those killed.
"He only started the journey, he never finished it so I want to finish what he began," Josh Small told Australian Associated Press on Thursday. "It's what has inspired me and driven me.
"Australia has competed at the Games since 1953 and will field a 400-person team this year for the 10-day games. Josh Small, who was only seven when his father died, took up bowling at the age of 14.
He'll wear his dad's uniform when he begins competing in the Maccabiah event. "It's something I can't explain," he said.
"When I bowl it feels like I have a bond with my father which drives me." His mother, Suzanne, who suffered serious injuries in the bridge collapse, arranged a coach for Josh the same person who coached Greg Small.
"My mom rang him up. He usually doesn't take people under 16 but because of his relationship with dad he took me on when I was 14," Josh Small said.
Australian victims of the accident received millions of dollars in compensation for the bridge accident, with the insurer for the games paying the bulk but the Israeli government contributing about a third. In 2000, a Tel Aviv court ruled that the bridge was built with substandard materials, without a proper plan and without supervision.
The engineer who designed the bridge was sentenced to 21 months in prison and contractors and the organizer other lesser jail sentences.
