UC Irvine to host sports, human rights symposium

EVENT: “Sports, Ethnicity, Gender and the Struggle for Human Rights” is the topic of a symposium to be hosted by The UC Irvine Program in Jewish Studies, in conjunction with the Orange County Maccabi for Youth Games. The event, held in conjunction with the U.S. Youth Maccabiah Games running Aug. 12-17 in Orange County, will feature a new documentary film, “Jewish Women in American Sport: Settlement Houses to the Olympics.” Other topics and presenters include:

“A History of the Maccabi Movement – Origins, Goals and Future Directions,” Nina Spiegel, assistant professor of Israeli history, University of Maryland


“Children and Play in the Holocaust: Games Among the Shadows,” George Eisen, associate vice president for academic affairs, Nazareth College


“Jewish Women in American Sport: Settlement Houses to the Olympics,” Linda Borish, associate professor of history, Western Michigan University


“The Unlevel Playing Field: The Experience of African-Americans in Sports,” David Wiggins, director of the School of Recreation, Health and Tourism, George Mason University
DATE: Tuesday, August 14, 2007
TIME: 5 p.m. dinner; 6:30 p.m. symposium
LOCATION: University Club, UCI campus (Bldg. 801 on campus map)

BACKGROUND: The Orange County Maccabi for Youth Games offers recreational and athletic activities in an environment that supports mutual respect, sportsmanship and appreciation of the Jewish culture. The games also connect local participants with the international Maccabi movement, which provides athletic, social and cultural opportunities throughout the world.

The symposium is co-sponsored by the UCI Pediatric Exercise Research Center, the UCI School of Humanities, and the UCI Office of the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.