Mediterranean Games
The Mediterranean Games, organized every four years, stand as the greatest sport event of the Mediterranean region, attracting the interest of the maritime countries (nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea), where Europe, Africa and Asia meet.
The Mediterranean Games, held under the auspices of the International Olympic Committee, fall within the competence of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, in terms of the preparation and composition of the National Delegation, precisely as for the Olympic 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 logo of the games, called also the “Mediterranean Olympics”, is composed of three white rings symbolically representing Africa, Asia, and Europe, the three continents that have coast on the Mediterranean Sea, reflecting themselves in the blue color of the sea.
In order to participate, all athletes must entered by their National Olympic Committee. There are, at present, 22 countries invited to participate in the games:
In Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia
In Asia: Lebanon, Syria, Turkey
In Europe: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain.
The latest edition to have been held was in 2005 in Almeria (ESP). This event saw over 3200 athletes from 22 countries compete. The Equestrian discipline included in the programme is Jumping.
The next edition is planned for 2009 and is set to take place in Pescara (ITA).
Host cities
- 1951 – 1st Mediterranean Games, Alexandria (Egypt)
- 1955 - 2nd Mediterranean Games, Barcelona (Spain)
- 1959 – 3rd Mediterranean Games, Beirut (Lebanon)
- 1963 – 4th Mediterranean Games, Naples (Italy)
- 1967 – 5th Mediterranean Games, Tunis (Tunisia)
- 1971 – 6th Mediterranean Games, İzmir (Turkey)
- 1975 – 7th Mediterranean Games, Algiers (Algeria)
- 1979 – 8th Mediterranean Games, Split (Croatia,Yugoslavia)
- 1983 – 9th Mediterranean Games, Rabat (Morocco) Jumping
- 1987 – 10th Mediterranean Games, Latakia (Syria) Jumping
- 1991 – 11th Mediterranean Games, Athens (Greece) Jumping
- 1993 – 12th Mediterranean Games, Agde (France) Jumping
- 1997 – 13th Mediterranean Games, Bari (Italy) Jumping
- 2001 – 14th Mediterranean Games, Tunis (Tunisia)
- 2005 – 15th Mediterranean Games, Almería (Spain) Jumping
- 2009 – 16th Mediterranean Games, Pescara (Italy)
For more information on the Mediterranean Games, the latest edition and the next one on the agenda for 2009, please visit the following websites:
http://www.cijm.net/; http://www.almeria2005.es/; http://www.pescara2009.it