Student Athletes of Israel

Train. Study. Champion.

Israel's first structured framework supporting athletes in pursuing both elite sport and higher education.

Bar-Ilan University Olympic Athletes Academic Excellence Paralympic Athletes National Movement Fall 2026 Scholarships Hakalot Framework

Redefining what Israel can achieve

Israel has the talent. What it has lacked is the system. For too long, our most gifted athletes have been forced off the path to greatness — not by their rivals, but by a culture that made them choose between sport and education.

SAI exists to change that permanently. We are building the national infrastructure that will make Israel a force on the world's biggest sporting stages — by giving every elite athlete the support, the resources, and the institutional backing to compete without compromise.

This is not just about scholarships. It is about transforming what Israeli sport means — to our athletes, to our youth, and to the world watching us compete.

MOU Signed · Bar-Ilan University

Two paths. One mission.

SAI is built around two distinct tracks — each designed for where an athlete actually is in their career, not a one-size-fits-all model.

Track A

Olympic &
Paralympic Athletes

National & International Competitors

For athletes actively competing at the national team level or higher. This track is built around the demands of elite training schedules, international competition calendars, and long-term athletic careers.

Academic accommodations around training and competition
Dedicated SAI academic coordinator managing university liaison
Dedicated tutor for catch-up sessions after travel and training blocks
Scholarship support
Track B

High-Performance
Athletes

Rising Competitors & National Level

For athletes competing seriously at a high national level who are building toward elite status. This track provides structured support to develop both athletic and academic potential simultaneously.

Academic accommodations around training and competition
Dedicated SAI academic coordinator managing university liaison
Dedicated tutor for catch-up sessions after travel and training blocks
Pathway to Track A if competitive level rises

Track placement is determined in partnership with the athlete, their coach, and the SAI selection committee.

From idea to movement

From concept to national framework — the milestones that brought SAI to life, and the road ahead.

Start
2030
The Problem Identified
SAI is founded to end the impossible choice Israeli athletes face.
Founding
Framework Built
Governance, two-track model, and scholarship structure established. Founding donor secured.
Operational
Bar-Ilan MOU Signed
Israel's first formal hakalot framework for elite athletes, co-created with Bar-Ilan University.
Milestone ✦
Reichman MOU Signed
Second university partnership formalized. Athlete-friendly hakalot extended to Reichman's Herzliya campus.
Milestone ✦
Cohort 1 Launch
10 founding athletes recruited. Mentorship program activated. Fall 2026 semester begins.
In Progress
University 3 Expansion
Replicate at Hebrew University, TAU, or Technion. 30+ athletes across three campuses.
Planned
100+ Athletes
4+ universities. Endowment established. Israel's most credentialed Olympic team ever.
Vision
The Problem Identified
SAI is founded to end the impossible choice Israeli athletes face.
Founding
Framework Built
Governance, two-track model, and scholarship structure established. Founding donor secured.
Operational
Bar-Ilan MOU Signed
Israel's first formal hakalot framework for elite athletes, co-created with Bar-Ilan University.
Milestone ✦
Reichman MOU Signed
Second university partnership formalized. Athlete-friendly hakalot extended to Reichman's Herzliya campus.
Milestone ✦
Cohort 1 Launch
10 founding athletes recruited. Mentorship program activated. Fall 2026 semester begins.
In Progress
University 3 Expansion
Replicate at Hebrew University, TAU, or Technion. 30+ athletes across three campuses.
Planned
100+ Athletes
4+ universities. Endowment established. Israel's most credentialed Olympic team ever.
Vision

Where champions study

SAI is building a national network of universities equipped to support elite athletes. Each new partner campus expands the number of athletes we can serve — and the sports culture we can transform.

Next Partner
University
Help Us Expand →
Next Partner
University
Help Us Expand →

Each new university partnership requires a $250K–$500K founding investment. Interested in bringing SAI to a campus? Get in touch →

Why this matters

From the athletes who lived the impossible choice, to the partners building the solution.

"

Thanks to this program, professional athletes like me will finally have a real opportunity to pursue education alongside elite sport. Israel will gain stronger, more successful athletes — and expand our representation on the world's biggest sporting stages.

Shahar Milfelder
Shahar Milfelder
Paralympic Rower  ·  Bronze Medalist, Paris 2024
"

The hakalot framework SAI negotiated with Bar-Ilan is a genuine breakthrough. For the first time, the university is adapting to the athlete's schedule — not the other way around.

University Partner Representative
Bar-Ilan University
"

As a donor, I've supported many causes. But SAI is unique — it's building infrastructure that compounds. Every athlete we support sends a signal to the next generation that excellence has no ceiling.

Founding Donor
SAI Cohort 1 Supporter

Ready to build Israel's Olympic future?

Your investment doesn't just support one athlete — it builds the infrastructure that will support generations of Israeli Olympic and Paralympic talent.

Explore Investment Opportunities →

Let's talk

Whether you're an athlete ready to apply, a donor exploring opportunities, or a university partner interested in the model — we'd love to hear from you.

Location Israel (Bar-Ilan University Partnership)
Launch Fall 2026 · Bar-Ilan University