Table Tennis Event Opening Season 2024/25 in Memory of Shay Michaeli – 10/20/2024

In order to establish an event of this magnitude and make it a tradition, many people and organizations came together, and to them we thank you. The list of acknowledgements isVery longAnd I hope I haven't forgotten anyone...

First and foremost, I would like to thankMy beloved son ShayYour inspiration accompanied us all the way: your modesty, your motto and that of the event - "Talk less, do more", the values of giving without limits, listening, your memory and the endless longing for you. Without all of these, the event would not have come to fruition. This event is just the first peak in the activity of commemoration, presence and legacy for you and your memory. And as long as I am here, there will be more such activities.

I want to thank my wife.OrlyDear. Your love for Shay is so great and the loss is so heavy! Therefore, your support in raising the event despite the great pain and the abyss in which you are immersed, especially in moments when it seemed that the difficulties and obstacles would prevent us from achieving our goals, was the real strength for the success of the event.

Special thanks toSongOur beloved daughter. The loss of a brother so close to your heart, just a moment (two weeks) before you are discharged from the army and begin your independent life, was an additional challenge in organizing the event. Therefore, your involvement during the week of the Israeli Championship and in the last days before the event was very important. Thank you for the moving speech you gave at the ceremony. We love you so much and we will always be here for you.

Thanks to the associationBeitar 'Micha' Rishon LeZion:

• To the Chairman of the Association Marian Grisero He was there from the meeting with the city's CEO until the day of the competition, ensuring connections with the right people and the right word at the right time.
• For the team coaches Yaniv Sharon, Isak Abramov and Nati Gad Who so wanted there to be a competition in memory of Shay, whom they loved so much, and helped in everything they were asked to do.
• toKobi SharonThe amazing person who demonstrated the ability to organize a competition at an international level
• To the team players and especially toYuval Yaromalsky, Itay Sharon, and also to other players who helped including Yaakov Yaromalsky and Adi Aviani
• For the team players Nathaniel Abramov and Tommy Greenfeld They show everywhere and at every opportunity how much they loved Shay and were influenced by his legacy. Thank you both for being the first to join in any commemoration activity in Shay's memory and for even going above and beyond what is required.

To the production company Hadar Ben-Dror- The wonderful Hadar Ben-Dror and Hanan Sterling - who raised an event to an international level with high standards and aimed high as I aim high. Just look at theEvent page on the company's websiteTo get an idea of how professional they are!

Thank you to the managers and employees.Rishon LeZion Municipal Society for Culture and Sports:

• To the CEO of the company Eli Pollak From the very first moment, more than just the 'Seven' teamed up to help us as a family and produce the event, finance it, and direct the right people to help.
• to Eric Zemaitis, Director of the Sports and Community Division who cared and supported
• to Assi Deri, the director of the sports department, whose work and contribution to the event are difficult to describe in words. Assi, in his pleasant and practical way, knew how to connect us with the right people, understand the needs and lead the event to success.
• to Tali Charner,The director of the Cultural Department and the Cultural Hall, who has been with the family since the 'Seventh' and knew how to connect us with the right people to 'close the last corners' in the logistics of the event. Thanks to all the employees in the Cultural Department who helped.
• Special thanks to the director of the Gan Nahum Sports Hall, Doron Hamdi, and all the hall staff, who were attentive and helpful in everything.

Municipality of Rishon LeZion, to its employees and the elected officials at its head:

• To the mayor Raz Kinstlich Who, with wonderful sensitivity, has been accompanying the family since the 'seventh anniversary' without favoring any bereaved family (and there are so many bereaved families like us in the city) and yet listens, understands and helps in everything, even if it means risking embarrassment in front of the entire audience in an exhibition match against the Israeli table tennis champion. And the mayor met the task with honor!
• To the CEO of the municipality Doron Milberg, who was there at every stage and at every decision-making juncture and was committed to the success of the event, and even came to verify it twice during the day of the event, and umpired and refereed the exhibition match and didn't forget that he came from table tennis.
• To the Deputy Mayors:

   - Eitan Shalom, the sports portfolio holder, who supported the event and made it a success

   - Avi Chaim, who accompanied the family, helped keep the event in the air and the people of his office

   - Itay Matityahu, the youth portfolio holder, who has been with the family for several years, even before Shay's fall, helped a lot to make the event a success and publicize it, and of course thanks to the people in his office

• And thanks to many more in the Rishon LeZion municipality who helped.

Thanks toIsrael Table Tennis Association:

• To the chairman of the unionLiron Carmel, who supported the event from the day we initiated it, overcame the difficulties and understood that Shay's legacy is to connect people, promote the sport of table tennis, and transcend any controversy that could be an obstacle to achieving these goals, as well as the lack of budget.
• To the outgoing CEO of the union Karin Peleg-NeumannWho helped with all the logistics of producing the competition and accompanied the event throughout.
• Thanks to everyone who helped with the union behind the scenes.

Thanks to sponsors and other companies:

• To the company Taboola TaboolaThe wonderful, the Adam Singolda The one who heads it (and once again we are committed to helping the family),Efrat Israeli-Koren Human Resources Manager, Aviv Sinai, to Avi Levi And to everyone who helped behind the scenes
• To Pixellot andAlon Verber, its outgoing CEO, and also toShay PardoAndEugene LevittWho lifted the pilot system and accompanied the event until its conclusion.

Thanks to the many photography teams: the video crew, the still photographer Gilad Kavalerchik And the magnet photography team.

Thank you to all the anonymous donors (and there are quite a few of them!) who generously donated and made the event a success. Without you, it wouldn't have happened at all!

Thanks to Battalion 5114 and the commanders of the Communications and Information Corps for all their help, for their honorable arrival at the event, and special thanks to Lt. Col. A. Shay's battalion commander for all the support, for the moving speech, and for the special connection you had with Shay.

Thanks to Yigal Akari For the unwavering support of the family

Thanks to Hanan Michaeli My dear cousin for everything

Thanks to Zvi Zussman, the father of the late Major Ben Sussman, for his advice, support, and attendance at the event.

Thanks also toDodik AltertzFor the support and help. There aren't many people like you!

Special thanks to my teachers and rabbi.Tsaka Raz We have known each other for so many years and you also accompanied Shay on his path in the table tennis industry, connecting us toYaniv SharonAt the beginning, you even tested and accepted Shay into the instructor course (although it ultimately failed due to the coronavirus pandemic), a course that I took under your leadership about 40 years ago. You also knew how to give advice to help elevate this event, even though you remained (and rightly so) behind the scenes.

Thanks to the Chairman of the Olympic Committee Yael Arad For your support, commitment and participation in the event. You are an inspiration to us all! And thanks to the CEO of the committee Gili Lustig Although he couldn't come, he helped behind the scenes.

A special heartfelt thank you to my new brother in the bereaved family.Oren SmedjaThe conversation between us and our correspondence strengthened me greatly, and I am strengthening and embracing you from afar.

Thank you to everyone who supported and helped and came to the event... I'm sure I forgot more people on the list, I apologize in advance.