GREETINGS
Miki Zohar Minister of Culture and Sport
Dear athletes,
Welcome to Jerusalem!
The city of Jerusalem welcomes you with great joy, as you arrive to us, from 26 different countries all over the world, to take part in the important athletics competition, the Jerusalem Grand Slam – which we are honored to host for the third time in a row, even in challenging and complex times.
In recent years, Jerusalem has been honored to host a long line of international sporting events, in which thousands of athletes from all over the world participate. The Grand Slam competition is another reinforcement of this trend that establishes Jerusalem’s status as Israel’s international sports center.
The competition that awaits us is an important opportunity for the best Israeli athletes to compete against representatives from the world’s top athletics, a fact that promises us all a high-level international competition alongside a special experience for all family members.
We are proud of the fact that the competition continues to grow and establish itself as a leading international athletics event in Israel, and congratulate you on the impressive achievement we witnessed last year: breaking the Israeli record in the 400-meter hurdles, after no less than 34 years!
I believe that your participation in the competition constitutes an important step in recognizing Jerusalem’s international status as a city of sports, with all that this implies.
I hope that between the competitions you will also find time to spend time and travel in our city, and certainly get excited and discover how there is nothing like Jerusalem in the entire world.
Wishing you much success,
Moshe Leon
Mayor of Jerusalem
Ami Baran President Israel Athletics Association
Dear Athletes, Coaches, Professional Staff, Judges, and Dear Friends of the Israeli Athletics Family,
It is with great pride and excitement that I welcome you to the third edition of the Grand
Slam Jerusalem 2026. What began only a few years ago as a vision has already
become a respected international event on the athletics calendar, bringing together
outstanding athletes, coaches, and federations from across Europe and beyond here in
the heart of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is a city where history, culture, and ambition come together, making it a truly
special stage for athletics. Each year, this event continues to grow, and we are proud to
see the Grand Slam develop into a competition that represents excellence, opportunity,
and the strong future of athletics in Israel.
For many athletes, this competition is another important step on the road toward major
international championships and future Olympic dreams. We hope the atmosphere,
organization, and energy of this event will help inspire exceptional performances and
unforgettable moments on the track and in the field.
I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Jerusalem Municipality for its
incredible partnership, commitment, and support in helping us continue to build and
strengthen this event year after year. Their belief in sport and international cooperation
plays a vital role in making the Grand Slam possible. We also thank European Athletics,
our partners, sponsors, officials, volunteers, and the dedicated team of the Israel
Athletics Association for their ongoing support and hard work.
To all athletes and guests, I wish you a successful, enjoyable, and memorable stay in
Jerusalem. May this event continue to build friendships, inspire excellence, and
strengthen the spirit of athletics for many years to come.
With warm regards,
Ami Baran
President
Israel Athletics Association
Moshe Leon - Mayor of Jerusalem
Dear athletes, welcome to Jerusalem!
Jerusalem, the sports capital of Israel, is proud to host the Grand Slam competition again in 2026. After last year’s success, we are looking forward to and excited about the international and prestigious competition that will be held at the National Stadium in Givat Ram, and we look forward to the many competitors who will come from Israel and abroad. I call on all athletics and sports enthusiasts in Israel to come to Jerusalem and enjoy an unforgettable sports experience and all the best that our city has to offer.
מידע שימושי על ירושלים
ירושלים היא עיר ידידותית למבקרים וערוכה לקבל את פניכם. כעת נכין אתכם לקראת הביקור בעיר! מצורף לשימושכם מידע רלוונטי הכולל- שפה, מזג אוויר, כללי התנהגות באתרים דתיים, חג ושבת, תנועה, ביטחון ותקשורת. בנוסף, תמצאו המלצות לאריזה (אל דאגה, תוכלו לרכוש את כל מה שתצטרכו גם בשדה התעופה ובמרכזים בעיר ירושלים).
LANGUAGE
Israel has three official languages: Hebrew, Arabic, and English. The streets of Jerusalem are filled with English speaking immigrants and tourists, and you’ll have no problem getting by. Tour venues and most shops and eateries have staff that are fluent in English. Furthermore, street signs are all translated into English. In addition, you’ll hear a lot of Russian, French and Spanish. What to Pack: a dictionary, but only if you want to work on your Hebrew or Arabic. If you prefer to speak English, you’ll be just fine in Jerusalem.
WEATHER
Israel effectively has two seasons: summer (no rain) and winter (the rainy season). Summer is from May to September, and is characterised by being arid and hot, with heat peaking in July/August. The winter season
is generally from November to March, with cool, wet conditions and temperatures occasionally reaching freezing. Snow is rare. The weather in the intermediate seasons of spring (April) as well as autumn (October) can go either way. What to Pack: A good winter coat and solid rain protection for September-April, and a light jacket for times when you’re not sure about the weather. During summer, the nights can be cool so pack a sweater.
BUSINESS HOURS
The service sector in Jerusalem is open Sunday through Friday, with Friday closing earlier for the Sabbath. Sunday-Thursday business hours tend to be as follows: shops, restaurants and attractions open from around 9-10am until 7-9pm, depending. Grocery stores: around 8am-10pm. Banks: usually 8:30am- 1:00pm as well as reopening some days of the week from around 4-6pm. ATM machines operate 24/7.
TOURING
A Jerusalem is a major centre of tourism, there is an amazing range of tours available for you to choose from. Check out Jerusalem day tours, awesome Dead Sea and Masada tours, Nazereth tours and more.
RELIGIOUS SITE DECORUM
Religious areas in Jerusalem include the Old City, any synagogue, church, or mosque, and some ultraorthodox neighbourhoods such as Meah Shearim. In these areas, it’s appropriate for women to have arms
covered, and to don dresses or skirts (a skirt can be wrap-around, and worn over pants). Men should wear long sleeves and pants. Also, couples generally refrain from touching in these places. What to Pack: men – pants/long-sleeve shirt; women: skirt (can be wrap-around) and long-sleeve shirt or cover.
THE SABBATH & HOLIDAYS
The Jewish Sabbath (“Shabbat”) and Jewish holidays begin before sundown, and end 25 hours later, about an hour after sundown. By and large in the Jewish areas, the city closes down and gatherings move mostly to synagogues and homes. This having been said, major industries maintain operations (including hotels) with some changes in order to observe the laws of Shabbat. For example, since manual electricity usage is prohibited by Jewish law on Shabbat, timers are put in place on elevators, heaters, and ovens.
However there are several museums, movie theaters, restaurants, and bars that remain open. Emergency services remain fully functional. If you need grocery items or drug stores, you can try the non-Jewish areas in the Old City or eastern Jerusalem. Likewise, there is no public transportation on Shabbat, but taxi cabs do operate. So, no point waiting at a bus stop unless you’re waiting there for a taxi! You can also order a taxi by phone. Most roads remain open, except for in some ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods – so if you’re driving on Shabbat, you’ll need to take that into account.
What to pack if attending Shabbat worship or meals: Casual dressy clothing. Men – pants/long-sleeve shirt; Women: skirt or dress and long-sleeve blouse or cover.
TIPPING
In Israel, sit-down waiter services are tipped 10-15% on the total bill. At service counters, you might see a glass for tips, but tipping is not required. For cab services, tipping is not required, yet one might choose to round
up rather than accept small change.
STAYING IN TOUCH: PHONE & INTERNET
It’s easy to stay in touch when visiting Jerusalem. If you are bringing your mobile phone, look into renting a SIM card locally, as it might be cheaper than arranging usage via your home mobile phone company. Wireless internet abounds in many restaurants and outside hubs, as well as most hotels, and internet cafes are prevalent in popular areas. For more information, take a look at our page on using the internet and phones in Jerusalem. What to pack: Your mobile phone and laptop, with chargers, if desired.
ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES
Sockets are round-pronged and of the three-pin variation, although two-prongs also work, so depending on your electrical device, you might need a plug adapter. Israel operates on 220V AC, like in Europe, therefore 110V appliances (usually from the US) will need a transformer.
What to pack: Transformer 110-220 (if US-based), and plug adapters. These can easily be purchased in the airport or in most electronics stores as well.
TRAFFIC LAWS
Stay alert, as Israelis are known for fast driving. At the same time, traffic laws are effectively the same as in any western country, except for crosswalks where cars only need to stop if a pedestrian has already begun crossing.
SAFETY & SECURITY
For personal safety, one should take precautions as any tourist might, even though Jerusalem maintains a low crime rate. You’ll likely feel as secure as you would in any western country – Jerusalem visitors say it’s not at all like what you might see in the mainstream media. At the same time, it is normal to have private security guards at entrances to venues and stores, and police or army patrolling central areas. Read more about safety and security and emergency services.
What to pack: Passport pouch for inside the shirt, and wallet which fits in front pocket.
TIMETABLE
| TIME | EVENT | GENDER | ROUND |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 - 24.6.2026 | |||
| 16:55 | Shot Put | Men + Women | |
| 17:00 | 110m Hurdles U18 U20 | Men | |
| 17:25 | 100m Hurdles U18 senior | Women | |
| 17:40 | 4X100 | Men | Final |
| 17:58 | 100m | Men | Heat 1 |
| 18:02 | High Jump | Men + Women | |
| 18:06 | 100m | Men | Heat 2 |
| 18:14 | 100m | Women | Heat 1 |
| 18:22 | 100m | Women | Heat 2 |
| 18:30 | 800m | Women | |
| 18:38 | 1500m | Men | |
| 18:50 | 4X100 Mix | Final | |
| Day 2 - 25.6.2026 - Pre Program | |||
| 16:30 | 60m | Boys U14 | Final |
| 16:36 | 60m | Girls U14 | Final |
| 16:46 | 80m | Boys U16 | Final |
| 16:52 | 80m | Girls U16 | Final |
| 17:25 | 100m | Men U18 | Final |
| 17:33 | 100m | Women U18 | Final |
| Day 2 - 25.6.2026 - Main Program | |||
| 17:45 | Discus Throw | Women | Final |
| 17:52 | Long Jump | Men | Final |
| 18:10 | 100m Hurdles | Women | Final |
| 18:24 | 110m Hurdles | Men | Semi Final 1 |
| 18:32 | 110m Hurdles | Men | Semi Final 2 |
| 18:44 | 100m | Men | C Final |
| 18:51 | 100m | Men | B Final |
| 18:56 | High Jump | Men | Final |
| 19:00 | 100m | Men | A Final |
| 19:08 | 100m | Women | Final |
| 19:20 | 110m Hurdles | Men | Final |
| 19:25 | Victory Ceremony 1 | ||
| 19:35 | 400m Hurdles | Women | Final |
| 19:40 | Long Jump | Women | Final |
| 19:44 | 400m Hurdles | Men | B Final |
| 19:48 | Discus Throw | Men | Final |
| 19:55 | 400m Hurdles | Men | A Final |
| 20:00 | Victory Ceremony 2 | ||
| 20:08 | 1500m | Women | Final |
| 20:20 | 800m | Men | Final |
| 20:30 | 200m | Men | C Final |
| 20:40 | 200m | Men | B Final |
| 20:55 | 200m | Women | Final |
| 21:03 | 200m | Men | A Final |
| 21:10 | Victory Ceremony 4 |
The National Athletics Stadium in Givat Ram
The National Athletics Stadium in Givat Ram is part of the sports centre of the Hebrew University and belongs to the Jerusalem Municipality.
The stadium, which was first inaugurated at a sporting event in 1958, is a historic site where a variety of events have been held since its establishment, including competitions such as the 1968 Summer Paralympics, the 2017 Maccabiah Games and of course the European Athletics U18 Championships in 2022. The stadium was upgraded ahead of last year’s U18 championships, and a stand of 3,361 seats was built.
with 2,000 of them under the same roof. Even the track itself and all of the other facilities were renewed and modified to a professional level. Also, all of the technological devices in the stadium have been upgraded and renewed, along with placing a results screen, a photo-finish tower and other upgrades.
The Jerusalem Municipality and other relevant parties have invested a lot of resources (about 50m NIS) and efforts into the project so that all of the participants can have a rich and professional experience on an international level, which integrates with the fact that Jerusalem is a city of sport.
50M
65
2000
3361
MAPS
1 | VIP Tribune
2 | Infield
3 | Warm-Up Area
4 | Mixed Zone
5 | Media Tribune
6 | TV Compound
7 | TV
7 | TV
7 | TV
8 | Public Entrance
9 | Call Room
10 | Athletes Tents
11 | Physiotherapy Area
12 | First Aid/Medical Centre
13 | Athletes Toilets
14 | Kit Collection Area
15 | Giant Screen
16 | Volunteers/Officials Area
17 | Team and Media
Drop-Off/Pick-Up
18 | Public Tribune
19 | Athletes and Media
Entrance
20 | Ambulance
| design map
MASCOT
LETS HEAR THE LION ROAR!
We are pleased to present to you JEREMY
Our mascot for the Grand Slam Winner Jerusalem 2024 competition!
This year, we have been honored to host the first prestigious international Grand Slam competition for the first time in Israel. Our mascot for this year’s competition is the symbol of the city of Jerusalem, where the competition will take place – the lion (originally the roaring lion).
We will take this opportunity for a brief historical corner and tell you why the lion was chosen as the symbol of the city somewhere in 1949 –
The origin is from the Bible, where the roaring lion represented the tribe of Judah (“Judah is a lion’s whelp” in Genesis) and the Kingdom of Judah, whose capital was the city of Jerusalem. Additionally, the lion, being the “king of beasts,” symbolizes courage, strength, power, and royalty, and as such is depicted in the symbol as a kind of guardian of the city walls.
We hope that by virtue of the lion’s courage and strength, we will achieve Israeli pride and significant accomplishments.
RECORDS
| GIVAT RAM STADIUM RECORDS
| Event | Record | Athlete | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 10.09 | Blessing Afrifa | ISR | 30.7.25 |
| 200 m | 20.47 | Blessing Afrifa | ISR | 19.5.24 |
| 400 m | 45.86 | Jonas Gunnleivsson | DEN | 9.8.23 |
| 800 m | 1:46.76 | Jakub Dudycha | CZE | 10.8.23 |
| 1500 m | 3:48.25 | Adisu Guadia | ISR | 26.6.22 |
| 3000 m | 8:09.4 | Yohannes Mohamed | ETH | 30.4.71 |
| 5000 m | 13:52.65 | Demeke Tesfaye | ETH | 27.6.22 |
| 2000 m Steeplechase | 5:32.78 | Samuel Duguna | ETH | 14.8.25 |
| 3000 m Steeplechase | 8:46.81 | Sergio Del Barrio | ESP | 10.8.23 |
| 110 m Hurdles | 13.63 | Daniel Cisneros | ESP | 19.5.24 |
| 400 m Hurdles | 49.42 | David Delgado | ESP | 14.8.25 |
| High Jump | 2.27 | Niki Palli | ISR | 13.7.08 |
| High Jump | 2.27 | Jonathan Kapitolnik | ISR | 26.6.22 |
| Pole Vault | 5.70 | Alex Averbukh | ISR | 5.7.04 |
| Long Jump | 8.23 | Mattia Furlani | ITA | 8.8.23 |
| Triple Jump | 16.69 | Yochai Halevi | ISR | 13.7.11 |
| Shot Put | 18.58 | Itamar Levi | ISR | 23.6.21 |
| Discus Throw | 63.54 | Rickard Bruch | SWE | 30.4.71 |
| Hammer Throw | 61.89 | Viktor Zaginaiko | ISR | 7.7.09 |
| Javelin Throw | 79.45 | Gyorgy Herczeg | HUN | 9.8.23 |
| Decathlon | None | |||
| 4x100 m | 39.61 | Switzerland U20 | SUI | 10.8.23 |
| 4x400 m | 3:06.89 | Britain U20 | GBR | 10.8.23 |
| 10000 m Walk | 41:53.58 | Frederick Weigel | GER | 10.8.23 |
| Event | Record | Athlete | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.22 | Diana Vaisman | ISR | 26.6.22 |
| 200 m | 23.26 | Nora Lindahl | SWE | 9.8.23 |
| 200 m | 23.26 | Alexa Sulyan | HUN | 9.8.23 |
| 400 m | 51.94 | Lurdes Manuel | CZE | 9.8.23 |
| 800 m | 2:03.38 | Audrey Werro | SUI | 10.8.23 |
| 1500 m | 4:13.63 | Jolanda Kallabis | GER | 14.8.25 |
| 3000 m | 8:53.20 | Agate Caune | LAT | 9.8.23 |
| 5000 m | 15:03.85 | Agate Caune | LAT | 10.8.23 |
| 2000 m Steeplechase | 6:13.92 | Fnu Ankita | IND | 14.8.25 |
| 3000 m Steeplechase | 9:57.39 | Adva Cohen | ISR | 31.7.25 |
| 100 m Hurdles | 13.06 | Rosina Schneider | GER | 8.8.23 |
| 400 m Hurdles | 56.50 | Alexandra Uta | ROU | 9.8.23 |
| High Jump | 1.92 | Angelina Topic | SRB | 6.7.22 |
| Pole Vault | 4.25 | Sara Winberg | SWE | 10.8.23 |
| Long Jump | 6.59 | Tabea Eitel | GER | 9.8.23 |
| Triple Jump | 14.15 | Hanna Minenko | ISR | 26.6.22 |
| Shot Put | 17.97 | Nina Ndubuisi | GER | 8.8.23 |
| Discus Throw | 59.37 | Daria Zabawska | POL | 14.8.25 |
| Hammer Throw | 64.69 | Valentina Savva | CYP | 8.8.23 |
| Javelin Throw | 63.07 | Margaryta Dorozhon | ISR | 13.7.17 |
| Heptathlon | 5928 | Sandrina Sprengel | GER | 7-8.8.23 |
| 4x100 m | 43.82 | Germany U20 | GER | 10.8.23 |
| 4x400 m | 3:33.31 | France U20 | FRA | 10.8.23 |
| 10000 m Walk | 45:59.76 | Sofia Santacreu | ESP | 9.8.23 |
| ISRAELI ALL-COMERS RECORDS
| Event | Result | Athlete | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 10.09 | Blessing Afrifah | ISR | 30.7.25 |
| 200 m | 20.22 | Sebastian Keitel | CHI | 25.7.98 |
| 400 m | 45.26 | Donald Blair-Sanford | ISR | 22.6.16 |
| 800 m | 1:46.35 | Rob Harrison | GBR | 1.5.84 |
| 1500 m | 3:39.15 | Steve Scott | USA | 7.5.87 |
| 3000 m | 7:57.80 | Tadesse Getahon | ISR | 11.6.23 |
| 5000 m | 13:35.14 | Tadesse Getahon | ISR | 25.4.24 |
| 10000 m | 27:46.79 | Tadesse Getahon | ISR | 18.4.24 |
| 3000 m Steeplechase | 8:38.72 | Thomas Hanlon | GBR | 7.5.87 |
| 110 m Hurdles | 13.31 | Milan Trajkovic | CYP | 25.6.17 |
| 400 m Hurdles | 49.42 | David Delgado | ESP | 14.8.25 |
| High Jump | 2.32 | Konstantin Matusevich | ISR | 24.7.00 |
| Pole Vault | 5.90 | Alex Averbukh | ISR | 30.6.01 |
| Pole Vault | 5.90 | Brad Walker | USA | 11.7.06 |
| Long Jump | 8.23 | Mattia Furlani | ITA | 8.8.23 |
| Triple Jump | 17.31 | Rostislav Dimitrov | BUL | 13.6.99 |
| Shot Put | 20.61 | Andrey Mikhnevich | BLR | 19.3.06 |
| Discus Throw | 65.66 | Lukas Weisshaidinger | AUT | 25.6.17 |
| Hammer Throw | 79.04 | Szymon Ziolkowski | POL | 19.3.06 |
| Javelin Throw | 83.93 | Andrian Mardare | MDA | 25.6.17 |
| Decathlon | 7,921 | Igor Sarcevic | SRB | 26-27.6.10 |
| 4x100 m | 39.11 | Ukraine National Team | 14.7.03 | |
| 4x400 m | 3:05.72 | Poland Selection | 23.5.12 | |
| 10000 m Walk | 41:51.40 | Vladimir Ostrovskiy | ISR | 26.5.93 |
| Event | Record | Athlete | Country | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m | 11.22 | Diana Vaisman | ISR | 26.6.22 |
| 200 m | 23.07 | Viktoriya Zyabkina | KAZ | 24.5.16 |
| 400 m | 51.76 | Jillian Richardson | CAN | 9.5.87 |
| 800 m | 1:59.34 | Ella Kovacz | ROU | 26.5.90 |
| 1500 m | 4:06.19 | Violeta Beclea | ROU | 27.5.90 |
| 3000 m | 8:53.20 | Agate Caune | LAT | 9.8.23 |
| 5000 m | 15:03.85 | Agate Caune | LAT | 10.8.23 |
| 10000 m | 31:39.63 | Lonah Salpeter | ISR | 26.4.18 |
| 3000 m Steeplechase | 9:40.62 | Adva Cohen | ISR | 23.5.24 |
| 100 m Hurdles | 12.70 | Mihaela Pogaceanu | ROU | 9.5.87 |
| 400 m Hurdles | 55.68 | Olga Nazarova | RUS | 23.5.92 |
| High Jump | 1.95 | Inna Gliznutsa | MDA | 13.6.99 |
| Pole Vault | 4.56 | Robeilys Peinado | VEN | 15.6.17 |
| Long Jump | 6.84 | Anisoara Cusmir | ROU | 4.5.83 |
| Triple Jump | 14.50 | Hanna Minenko | ISR | 3.7.13 |
| Shot Put | 19.18 | Natalya Khoroneko | BLR | 18.3.06 |
| Discus Throw | 71.10 | Ilke Wyludda | GDR | 27.5.90 |
| Hammer Throw | 73.32 | Kamila Skolimowska | POL | 18.3.06 |
| Javelin | 63.34 | Margaryta Dorozhon | ISR | 27.4.15 |
| Heptathlon | 6,031 | Svetlana Gnezdilov | ISR | 12-13.8.03 |
| 4x100 m | 43.82 | Germany U20 | 10.8.23 | |
| 4x400 m | 3:33.31 | France U20 | 10.8.23 | |
| 10000 m Walk | 45:59.76 | Sofia Santacreu | ESP | 9.8.23 |
