In
1948, while the Olympic Games were being held in London, the members of the
National Olympic Committees (N.O.C.) of the Mediterranean countries made the
decisión to set up the Mediterranean Games.
The
first edition took place from 5th to 20th October 1951 in Alexandria (Egypt).
Since
then there have been thirteen editions of this event to date.The ten successive
events (Barcelona 55, Beirut 59, Naples 63,Tunis 67, Izmir 71, Algiers 75, Split
79, Casablanca 83, Latakia 87 and Athens 91) were held every four years, the
year before the Oiympic Games. Since the Languedoc-Roussillon 93 edition these
were held the year after the Olympic Games.
In
1997 the city of Bari (Italy) was entrusted with arranging the thirteenth
edition from 13th
to 25th June.
Mohamed
Taher Basha (1879-1970)
MohamedTaher Basha is considered to
have been the creator ofthe Mediterranean Games. launching the project the day
after the Olympic Games in London finished in 1948.
This Doctor of Political Sciences of
Egyptian origin was born in 1879, and fírmiy convinced that sports are an
extraordinary vehicle for peace and brotherhood.
He was Président ofthe InternationalAeronautical Federation (I.A.F). 1934-1947,member ofthe International Olympics Committee (I..O.C.), 1952-1957 and assistant to the Président ofthe I.O.C..Avery Brundage. 1960-1964.
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