Looking For 'One Good Man' - May Tryouts to Find New Olympic Star

Jerusalem, April 19

Providing a unique opportunity for an Israeli athlete to compete on the international scene, the Israeli Bobsled Team (IBT) will be holding tryouts for the fourth and final Israeli member to join their historic first team. Any Israeli that meets the athletic requirements for the sport has the opportunity to be eligible for the team and if chosen will become an instant Israeli sports star. This ‘one good man’ selected from Israel's finest athletes will live, train and compete with the IBT on Olympic tracks in the United States, Canada, and Europe to qualify for the upcoming 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.

Tryouts will take place in Israel on May 11th and 12th for a talented, determined and committed athlete to join the Israeli Bobsled Team. Qualifying rounds will take place at the Canada Center (May 11) and Kfar Macabbia (May 12) with the finals taking place at the Wingate Institute on May 14th. Specific physical requirements for the athlete include height of at least 1.75 meters, weight of at least 100kg. At the tryouts, the team will test the aspiring bobsledders for their ability to run 30 meters in less than 4 seconds and a vertical jump of greater than 70 centimeters, bench press at least 120 kg and a power clean of greater than 100kg.
The winner will join Aaron Zeff, a former U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, and John Frank, a former NFL star with the San Francisco 49ers who created the Israeli Bobsled Team in 2001. Along with David Greaves, a nationally ranked sprinter from Canada and coached by Ross Dominikovich, former captain of the Olympic winter New Zealand Bobsled Team, the Israeli Bobsled team has already established itself a serious contender in international bobsledding.

The ultimate goal for IBT is to be selected to compete among the most elite teams in the world, representing Israel at the 2006 Olympics.

“When you think of Israel, bobsled is not the first thing that comes to mind – yet,” says Zeff, the driver/pilot for IBT. “Our primary goal is to bring bobsledding and the opportunity to compete in this thrilling sport to each and every Israeli. We want the Israeli Bobsled Team to be a source of national pride among Israel’s citizens during the 2006 Winter Olympics and beyond. ”

"We're serious athletes with purpose and ambition," says IBT brakeman, John Frank. "And we are here looking for the last piece of the IBT puzzle – the young, ambitious, and talented Israeli athlete to be an integral member of our winning team."

The team members all hold Israeli citizenship and are sanctioned by the Israeli Olympic Committee (IOC). The team proudly represented Israel in February at the World Championships Bobsled Races in Germany.
To find out more or to attend the tryouts, email bobsled@ruderfinn.co.il or call +972-54-676-983

www.israelibobsled.com
# # #
Ruder Finn
Dena +972-544-676-982 dena@ruderfinn.co.il