Pride and athletic glory were laid on the line at Kibbutz Givat Brenner as olive aficionados from around the country gathered to showcase their love of olives and their ability to spit their pits as far as humanly possible. Givat Brenner, south of Rehovot, was the setting for Israels first official olive-pit spitting contest, the Web portal Israel 21c reported on Thursday. Hopefuls of all ages, and sizes, gathered to beat the seemingly insurmountable world record of 21.32 meters (nearly 70 feet). Izhak Hazan won the competition, as well as a shiny gold medal, with a distance of 10.9 meters (35.7 feet), exposing Israelis to yet another athletic event perhaps best left for other nations to pursue. What can't be denied, however, is the unconditional love Israelis have for their olives, no matter how far they can, or can't, spit them. We are strong in olives," one vendor told Israel 21c. Indeed, Israel even has a mountain named after olives. Visitor Rafi Mann added, There are few other things more Israeli than olives. Weve had olives for thousands of years.
