Some 4,000 Jewish athletes from at least twenty countries attend in Santiago, capital of Chile, the Pan American multi-sport Maccabi Games.

The thirteenth edition of the international multi-sport event will be held in Santiago from Dec. 28 to Jan. 4, 2016 and will draw participants from South, Central and North Americas, Israel and guest countries such as Australia and South Africa.

Participants are coming from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay but also from Israel, North America and South Africa.

Held every four years, the Pan American Maccabi Games are held to “perpetuate and preserve the Jewish communities in the Americas by encouraging Jewish pride, strengthening Jewish bonds, and by creating a heightened awareness of Israel and Jewish Identity.”