By Ethan Ready

Jewish Olympics

Local woman soaks opportunity with Team Canada at Maccabiah Games

Jul 27, 2022 | 6:05 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – When it comes to international multi-sport events, the first that comes to mind is either of the Olympic Games, but a local woman recently got the opportunity to compete at the Maccabiah Games, the third largest multi-sport games in the world after both the summer and winter Olympics. Ashlee Brown suited up for Team Canada in softball at the event commonly referred to as the Jewish Olympics.

Brown, who moved to Prince George 16 years ago, admits it’s been nearly 20 years since she last played fastball. She’s a member of B.C.’s provincial slo-pitch team, so she’s no stranger to competition. She says it wasn’t so much whether or not she wanted to go to the Maccabiah Games, but whether she would physically be able to play.

Entering the Games, she was just one of two 40-year-old players on Team Canada. Her teammates are mostly in their late teens to early 20s.

After turning down an invite to the previous Maccabiah Games due to a prior commitment, Brown took on the opportunity to travel to Israel for the 2022 event.

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“I am sometimes blown away how you can take so many people from around the world with different backgrounds and heritages, and different beliefs, and things like that.. but all come together and support and represent one country,” she said during a video interview from Israel.

Brown’s step-dad is Jewish, which was how she was able to earn eligibility for the Games.

“We have people from all different backgrounds, whether they were born Jewish or raised that way, or whether they’ve been immersed into that culture, but it’s all about highlighting the Jewish community.”

Given the past few years battling through the pandemic, Brown says these Games have been a huge celebration.

“Given the times, that has probably had a big contribution as to why there are these alliances and support systems (among countries), because we’ve all recognized and had to deal with the same things. Whether it be from Chile, South Africa, or Canada, it actually kind of unites us as one because we’ve all faced it.”

And she believes this has been a life-changing experience for the younger athletes who’ve been held back – socially – by the pandemic.

“The young kids that haven’t had the 20 years-plus experience that I’ve had. At their young age, there’s a lot they’ve missed out on, so to see that they’ve been able to experience that means more to me than my own experience because they’ve lost out on some really key years of their lives.”

Team Canada finished the tournament with a record of 1-5.

Following this experience, Brown will be off to the Canadian Women’s Slo-Pitch Championships in Surrey, B.C. The tournament gets underway Aug. 7 and runs through to the 13th.

Brown admits being interested in being a part of the Maccabiah Games again, just next time as a coach.