David Blatt, one of the greatest basketball coaches in Israel and Europe, was chosen to light a torch at the 75th Israel Independence Day ceremony to be held on Mount Herzl.
"I am excited just thinking that I have been chosen to light a torch on the Independence Day of the State of Israel," Blatt said. "This gives me the opportunity to do the thing I always wanted to do with pride and love and that is to represent our beautiful country, the special people in it and the Jews all over the world who support the State of Israel and our existence."
"I never imagined that such an honor would fall to me and I'm just happy right now. I hope that I can continue to serve the country that I love so much in any way possible. I have always dreamed that through sports I could influence and bring people together, whether in the 7 countries I have lived in over the years, or through the experiences I have gained over the years in the various stations in the world of sports In general and Maccabi Tel Aviv in particular,'' added Blatt.