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Jewish football comes home to Vienna

Updated: 27/Jun/2006 14:12

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VIENNA (EJP)--- One of the most successful Jewish sport clubs in the world returns to its historical home after more than 60 years.

Established in 1909, Hakoah had up to 6,000 members in its heyday before WWII. The club’s football team beat all Austrian teams in the 1924-25 championships. The victory was followed by a US Tour, after which many players stayed in the US for good. Hakoah also hosted world-class women’s swimming champions.

The club was destroyed by the Nazis in 1941 and most members left Austria before or just after its annexation by the Nazis.

After the signing of the 2001 Washington Agreement regarding the restitution of Jewish property, it became clear that Hakoah would get some ground back.

Hakoah’s president and sports physician Paul Haber and project manager Ronald Gelbard presented last week plans for the construction of new sports venues in Vienna.

The venue is part of a community building that will be completed by June 2008, just before Austria is to host the European Football Championship Switzerland.

Hakoah will also have a indoor sports hall seating 250 visitors and a 25-metre pool. The seven million euro grant awarded by the Austrian government and Vienna’s city council does however not cover the costs of the pool’s construction.

Funds for pool

Instead, former Olympic medallist Markus Rogan, has pledged to raise money for the pool.

He is expected to raise around 2,5 million euro through a fund raising dinner, at which one of his medals will be auctioned.

He will also do a charity swim, racing against Aaron Peirsol.

Rogan, who is not Jewish, is familiar with Jewish festivals and tradition and feel dedicated to reviving the Hakoah club.

He said swimming was a traditional Jewish sport, and referred to great Jewish swimmers such as Mark Spitz, Lenny Kreizelburg and Johnny Weissmueller.

The 10,000 square metres that will be used by the Hakoah sports club are part of a larger project that will include Jewish community facilities including a school, a home for the elderly and wellness facilities.

The tight security measures and costs are one of the reasons for concentrating Jewish institutions in the Ichmanngasse far from the town centre. The area will only be connected to the metro and road system in 2008.

The street will be renamed then Simon Wiesenthal Gasse, already decided by district political body.

Some critics say the project will recreate a ghetto. The head of Vienna’s Jewish communuity, Ariel Muzicant, made the decision possible.