Before taking to the stage at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena for two concerts (11 and 13 July), British pop star Sir Cliff Richard took to the tennis courts (9 July) at the Nazareth Tennis School. An avid tennis fan and player, Sir Cliff donated funds in 2005 to help the Freddie Krivine Foundation refurbish courts for Israeli Arab youth at the Nazareth Tennis School, located in the grounds of the Nazareth YMCA. Over 100 Israeli Arab children aged 8-18 who take part in the tennis program greeted the British benefactor, joined by the Mayor of Nazareth Ramiz Jaraisy and president of the Israel Tennis Association Dr. Ian Froman
Sir Cliff Richard, who had watched Andy Murray beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon earlier in the week: “When I first heard about The Freddie Krivine Foundation and its aim to bring Israeli Jewish and Arab children together, I needed no persuasion to be involved. Building bridges between communities is always admirable. To do so via my favourite sport, tennis, was just a perfect concept for me. Arab and Jewish children playing sport together with all that means in terms of healthy competition, confidence and camaraderie can only sow good seeds for the future.”
Sir Cliff with some of the Israeli Arab children who take part in the tennis programme
According to former Brit and Director of the Freddie Krivine Foundation Jane Krivine, “Sir Cliff’s visit to the Nazareth Tennis Center, just days after the Wimbledon Championships, is the highlight of the tennis year for the 200 Arab children at the school. My late father, a former President of the Israel Tennis Association, established the foundation 15 years ago to promote co-existence and equal opportunity in Israel through tennis. Today, we have eight tennis schools in the Israeli Arab sector around the country, a co-existence tennis school in Beit Hananya and many tennis programs and tournaments that bring together Israeli Arab and Jewish youth. And with many of our graduates now working as tennis coaches, we are offering employment as well as empowerment.”
Photo Credit: David Katz
For more information on the Freddie Krivine Foundation go to