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The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport games held every four years for nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea. The idea was proposed at the 1948 Summer Olympics by Muhammed Taher Pasha, chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, and they were first held in 1951. The first 10 games took place always one year preceding the Olympics. However, from 1991 on, they were held the year following the Olympic games.
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 colour of the sea. During the closing ceremony, the flag of the games is transferred to the country of the city chosen for the organisation of the next Mediterranean Games.
Participating countries
At present 21 countries participate in the games:
- Europe: Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey.
The only country bordering the Mediterranean Sea which does not participate is Israel,this until 2009 in Pescara.Italy and the first time to Palestine
Host cities
All of the host cities to date have been situated on the Mediterranean coast. No inland city has ever hosted the games.
- 1951: Alexandria (Egypt)
- 1955: Barcelona (Spain)
- 1959: Beirut (Lebanon)
- 1963: Naples (Italy)
- 1967: Tunis (Tunisia)
- 1971: İzmir (Turkey)
- 1975: Algiers (Algeria)
- 1979: Split (Croatia, then Yugoslavia)
- 1983: Casablanca (Morocco)
- 1987: Latakia (Syria)
- 1991: Athens (Greece)
- 1993: Languedoc-Roussillon (France)
- 1997: Bari (Italy)
- 2001: Tunis (Tunisia)
- 2005, June 24 – July 3: Almería (Spain)
The Italian city Pescara will host the next Mediterranean Games in 2009.
List of sports
24 sports make up the programme of the games in 2005: Aquatics (Swimming, Waterpolo), Archery, Athletics, Basketball, Bowls, Boxing, Canoe-Kayak, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic), Handball, Handisports, Judo, Karate, Rowing, Sailing, Shooting, Table tennis, Tennis, Volleyball (and Beach volleyball), Weightlifting and Wrestling.
Sailing make a proposel to enter in the program.
A proposal that women be included in the games was made as early as 1959, but women did not participate until 1967.
External links
Mediteranske igre | Mittelmeerspiele | Juegos Mediterráneos | Jeux Méditerranéens | Giochi del Mediterraneo | 地中海競技大会
"Mediterranean Games"