Israel kicked off the 20th annual Maccabiah games on Thursday with a grand opening ceremony at Teddy Stadium in Jerusalem for what is commonly called the 'Jewish Olympics'.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin addressed the crowd, comprised of 30,000 Jews from around the world, and welcomed the athletes to Israel’s capital.

“Welcome to Jerusalem and welcome to Israel,” Rivlin said to the enthusiastic crowd. “Welcome home and welcome to the thousands of wonderful athletes that came to join us from 80 different countries.”

“How nice it is to see you in Jerusalem, the eternal capital of Israel,” Rivlin said, emphasizing that this year’s event marks the largest Maccabiah games since its inception.

The president asserted that sports test everyone's boundaries both mentally and physically.

“This is the spirit that created Zionism,” Rivlin added. "Our country is your country, our home is your home.”

Thousands of spectators packed into the stadium in southern Jerusalem, to watch a record 10,000 athletes from 80 countries file in. The games feature 43 sports.

According to the games’ organizers, it is the third largest sporting event in the world with a range of sports from gymnastics to basketball to badminton, and even chess. However, the most popular sport at the games is soccer with more than 1,400 athletes from 20 countries participating.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address evoked applause and from the crowd as he affirmed that Israel is the homeland of the Jewish people.

“Dear Maccabiah participants, welcome to Israel and welcome to Jerusalem. I have two messages for you today," Netanyahu said. "The first is to excel in sports. Run, kick, jump and jump for the skies. Achieve everything you want and beyond what you want.”

“You are all winners, you are all champions,” the prime minister added.

“We are all one people. The Maccabiah is named for the Maccabees, 2200 years ago we were conquered by the descendants of Alexander the Great and the Maccabees, five brothers, liberated the Jews against all odds, they liberated Jerusalem,” the prime minister said.

The crowd roared with applause as Netnayahu said,“the people of Israel are strong and Israel is strong."

“This is your land too, welcome to your homeland, welcome to Israel and welcome to Jerusalem our eternal capital,” Netanyahu said, wishing the athletes luck and success.

Over 1,000 athletes will represent the United States in the competitions, according to Maccabi USA, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported.

A delegation from Australia will send 600 athletes to compete, who also marked the twenty year anniversary of a bridge collapse at the 1997 Maccabiah Games, which claimed the lives of four Australian athletes.

The entire Australian delegation attended a ceremony in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ramat Gan on Tuesday morning to commemorate the tragedy.