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The JCC Maccabi Games — which begin Sunday, Aug. 1 in Colorado, Nebraska and Virginia — will bring Jewish teen athletes from around the world to four U.S. cities for five days of competition, Jewish fellowship and fun. Participants will include delegations from local Jewish community centers.

The JCC of San Francisco is sending a delegation of 70 teen athletes to Denver, and 40 others to Omaha, Neb. Josh Steinharter, the JCCSF’s youth athletic program manager, says his JCC will field teams in boys and girls basketball, volleyball, dance, tennis, swimming, flag football, golf and track.

Jaime Benes, the assistant director of fitness and wellness at Palo Alto’s Oshman Family JCC, says she will take 11 young athletes to the games in Omaha, including a boys and girls basketball teams, as well as volleyball and soccer players.

“For the kids it’s a unique experience,” said Steinharter. “It’s the only event that ties all JCCs together in the country, and it’s the largest Jewish teen event in the world.”

Other games are scheduled Aug. 1 to 6 in Richmond, Va., and Aug. 8 to 13 in Baltimore. Last year, the games were held in three locations: San Francisco; San Antonio, Texas; and Westchester County, N.Y.