(haipo) – Prominent representation for Haifa and Kiryat Yam at the 2026 "President's Award in Sports" ceremony: Maccabi Haifa President Yaakov Shahar won a personal exemplary award, Maccabi Haifa's women's basketball team received the President's Award for social-community work, and the Kiryat Yam Municipality won a commendation for a community project with a wide impact.
The 2026 President's Award in Sports Ceremony ► Watch
President Yitzhak Herzog and his wife Michal hosted the "Presidential Award in Sports" ceremony on Sunday, August 16, 2026. This year, the ceremony was dedicated to the power of sports in connecting communities, commemorating, restoring, and strengthening social resilience.
Yaakov Shahar received a personal exemplary award
One of the key moments in the ceremony for Haifa was the awarding of A personal exemplary award for Yaakov Shahar, President of Maccabi HaifaShahar received the award alongside Alona Barkat, president of Hapoel Beer Sheva, in recognition of their many years of contribution to Israeli sports and social resilience, and especially for the clubs' community activities since October 7 and during the war. This is the first time the Individual Excellence Award has been awarded at the event.
Maccabi Haifa Women: Sports as an engine of education and community
is also Maccabi Haifa Women's Basketball Club He gained national recognition when he received the President's Award for general excellence in social and community work in the women's basketball category.
According to the reasons for the choice, the club transformed the basketball court into a space for education, empowerment, and community connection. Among other things, the club adopted bereaved families from Haifa and commemorated their sons who fell on October 7th and were Maccabi Haifa fans.
The club also worked to prevent violence against women in collaboration with the Michal Sala Forum, strengthened coexistence connections with the Hapoel Reina basketball team, and worked to make sports accessible to children and youth on the autistic spectrum.
Kiryat Yam won for the "Chess Model"
Another significant achievement for the region was recorded as a Kiryat Yam Municipality, which won a commendation for a local authority for a community project with a wide impact.
The municipality won the right "The Chess Model", a project that harnesses mental sports to create a meaningful framework for children and youth, to strengthen resilience, prevent risky behaviors, and develop leadership and excellence. This year was the first time that a commendation was awarded to a local authority as part of the President's Award in Sports.
President of the State: Sports are "an island of sanity in Israel"
President of the State, Isaac Herzog At the ceremony, he emphasized the role of sports clubs in strengthening Israeli society, supporting bereaved families, and creating a sense of belonging and community. He said that sports have recently become for many an "island of sanity in Israel," and a source of inspiration, pride, and hope.
The recognition of Yaakov Shahar, Maccabi Haifa Women, and the Kiryat Yam Municipality places Haifa and the Kiryat Yam at the forefront of social action through sports this year, and emphasizes that the impact of a club, team, or local authority is measured not only by achievements on the field, but also by the ability to strengthen the community around them.
An island of sanity, the man said, when everything is pathetic.