NAOMI LEVIN

HOT weather and fierce competition have been the hallmarks of this year’s Maccabi Junior Carnival in Perth.

For more than 130 Victorians, close to 50 New South Wales participants, small contingents from Singapore and Hong Kong and an enthusiastic local team, the hardest battles were fought off the field as participants, organisers and volunteers braved temperatures of more than 40 degrees.

As well as athletics, basketball, netball, table tennis and the other popular sports, golf was added to the schedule this year.

The other sought-after game was indoor soccer -– played at a state-of-art air conditioned venue. Most of the other sports were held at the community’s own Maccabi sports grounds, where a kosher kiosk catered for the hungry and thirsty kids.

The carnival opened on December 29 with a ceremony at the Perth Maccabi Centre and continues until January 6.