The Mediterranean Games
The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event held every four years for nations bordering the Mediterranean Sea where the continents Europe, Africa and Asia meet.
The Mediterranean Games are organized by the International Olympic Committee and the Hellenic Olympic Committee.
Athens has a permanent seat in the ICMG (regardless of who the President may be) while a Greek is the Committee’s General Secretary.
During the 1948 Summer Olympics, the idea of having the Mediterranean Games was proposed by the chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee, Muhammed Tasher Pasha. The Games were inaugurated in October 1951 held in Alexandria, Egypt.
The first 10 Mediterranean Games partook every one year preceding the Olympics, but in 1993, they were held the year following the Olympics. Since then, the event is held every 4 years without interruptions.
24 counties participate in the games-- 5 from Africa, 2 from Asia and 19 from Europe. Of all the National Olympic Committees within the Olympic Movement bordering the Mediterranean Sea, only the Israeli is not allowed to participat at the Games. Some other countries that do not border around the Mediterranean Sea also participate like Andorra, San Marino, Serbia and North Macedonia.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee said that there are also countries that do not satisfy geographic criteria to be allowed to participate in the Games like Bulgaria, Portugal and some Arab countries.
During the 2013 Mediterranean Games, Greece pulled out of being the host of the Games because of financial troubles. It was supposed to be held in the cities of Volos and Larissa. When they couldn’t be hosts, the Games were handed to Türkiye.
The next Mediterranean Games
- 2022, to be held in Oran, Algeria
- 2026, Taranto, Italy
Related Pages
- Mediterranean Beach Games — consist only water sports and beach sports, held every 4 years since 2015.
- Other International Multi-Events
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