Added: 11/22/2007 |
Mediterranean Games Since 1951The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event held after every four years with countries who are bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The main purpose of this multi-sporting event is to bond and connect the neighboring countries around Mediterranean Sea. This helps countries develop good political, cultural, religious friendship avoiding any kind of misunderstanding and hostilities.
Currently there are 21 member countries in this multi-sport event. From all the countries near the Mediterranean Sea only Israel is the one country not a member. The names are:
•Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
•Europe: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, Monaco, San Marino, Serbia, Spain and Slovenia.
•Asia: Lebanon, Turkey and Syria.
The games and the member countries were decided in Alexandria, Egypt, in the month of October 1951 in honor of Muhammad Taher Pasha, the man to whom their inspiration is owed, with contests being held in 13 sports along with the participation of 734 athletes from 10 countries. Since then the Mediterranean games have been regularly scheduled for four years of time period. After four years of the beginning of the Mediterranean Games, a need for a supervisory committee was needed as the member countries were increasing. Therefore, the final decision was materialized on June 16, 1961 and the Supervising Body was named upon a Greek notion, ICMG (International Committee for the Mediterranean Games). Athens is the permanent seat of the ICMG irrespective of who the President might be and the Committee’s General Secretary is Greek.
The Mediterranean Games is one of the greatest sporting events which are hosted by different member countries each time. This event attracts the maritime countries, where Africa, Asia and Europe meet. These games form an opportunity for a peaceful confrontation between youth from three Continents, different cultures and religions, yet bound together by a common ideal, The Olympic Ideal, which has sprung from an ancient Mediterranean country, Greece, the cradle of the contemporary western civilization. A chance is thus given, through these games, for young people to get to know each other, appreciate each other, reaffirm or strengthen their ties in a climate of peaceful rivalry.
The official logo for the Mediterranean Games is three white colored rings symbolizing three continents who are the member of this multi-sport event i.e. Asia, Africa and Europe, the three continents that have coast on the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting themselves in the blue color of the sea. This logo is being used since 1979. During the ceremony of the Mediterranean Games the flag is passed on to the next hosting country for the Mediterranean Games.
The list of the hosting countries since the beginning of this event till 2013 is:
1.1951: Alexandria (Egypt)
2.1955: Barcelona (Spain)
3.1959: Beirut (Lebanon)
4.1963: Naples (Italy)
5.1967: Tunis (Tunisia)
6.1971: Izmir (Turkey)
7.1975: Algiers (Algeria)
8.1979: Split (Croatia,Yugoslavia)
9.1983: Casablanca (Morocco)
10.1987: Latakia (Syria)
11.1991: Athens (Greece)
12.1993: Languedoc-Roussillon (France)
13.1997: Bari (Italy)
14.2001: Tunis (Tunisia)
15.2005: Almería (Spain)
16.2009: Pescare (Italy)
17.2013: Larisa and Volos (Greece)
The 24 sports included in the Mediterranean Games are Aquatics (Swimming, Waterpolo, Archery, Athletics , Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Canoe-Kayak, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Handisports, Judo, Karate, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wrestling.
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