Sports and Politics: Israeli sports figures fare decently at the polls

Tennis player Tzipi Obziler elected to the Givatayim municipal council after "Green Givatayim" party wins two mandates.

By ALLON SINAI
oblizer 88 (photo credit: )
oblizer 88
(photo credit: )
Betar Jerusalem owner Arkadi Gaydamak may have failed miserably in his attempt to be elected as Jerusalem mayor, but several other figures from the sporting world were far more successful in Tuesday's local elections. Bnei Sakhnin's legendry chairman Mazen Ganaim, who resigned from his position at the club at the start of October to have more time to prepare for the elections, was elected as mayor of Sakhnin, receiving 59 percent of the votes and ousting incumbent mayor, Mohammed Bashir. Israeli tennis player Tzipi Obziler was elected to the Givatayim municipal council after the "Green Givatayim" party won two mandates. The 35-year-old said she has no immediate plans to retire from tennis, although she plans to reduce her schedule for next year and spend more time in Israel. Judoka Yoel Rozvozov, who was number eight on Netanya mayor's Miriam Feierberg's party, was elected to the city's council after the party won nine mandates on Tuesday. Rozvozov, a former European Championship medalist, missed out on the Beijing Olympics, but is still hoping to make his second Olympic appearance in London in 2012. Last but not least, former Israel international, and Maccabi and Hapoel Tel Aviv coach Nir Levin, who is now in charge of youth development at Maccabi Tel Aviv, was elected to the Mazkeret Batya council.