The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games began on Saturday evening in the Algerian city of Oran (400 km west of Algiers) which will become the capital of the Mediterranean for ten days.
The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games began on Saturday evening in the Algerian city of Oran (400 km west of Algiers) which will become the capital of the Mediterranean for ten days.
The official launch of this competition called Oran 2022 took place during a colorful ceremony during which those present at the Miloud-Hadefi Olympic Complex stadium were amazed by the organization, marked in particular by the deployment of the different aspects of the Algerian culture.
This ceremony, which lasted until late in the evening, took place in the presence of the Algerian President, Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who officially kicked off these games which will continue until July 6.
The event was also marked by the presence of several guests from different countries, including the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim Ben Hamad Al-Thani, who attended this ceremony as a guest of honour, at the invitation of President Tebboune.
Other distinguished guests, like the Captains Regent of San Marino, Oscar Mina and Paolo Rondelli, the Turkish Vice-President, Fuat Oktay, the Italian Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, and the Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean (UPM), Nasser Kamel, also attended the opening ceremony.
The organizers of this ceremony wanted to demonstrate, for several hours, the links that unite the country with its Mediterranean area.
“Thanks to the efforts made by the Algerian government, the best conditions have been met for the success of these games which bring together the best athletes in the Mediterranean. The modern infrastructures built for these Games are an achievement for the national sports movement, underlined Aziz Derouaz , game commissioner.
For his part, Davide Tizzano, president of the International Mediterranean Games Committee (CIJM), also paid tribute to the organizers.
“The International Committee of the Mediterranean Games has the great pleasure of being present in Oran for the 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games and of returning a second time to Algeria after the edition of Algiers in 1975. We are grateful for the welcome given by the Algerian people and their attachment to the Mediterranean Games. The Mediterranean people are happy to relive the joy of the games after the pandemic period that has hit the world in a festive atmosphere of peace and brotherhood,” he said.
At least 3,390 athletes representing 26 countries take part in the various competitions and they will compete for the podiums at stake in the 26 disciplines included in the general programme, which also includes three exhibition disciplines.
Algeria, let us remember, had already hosted an edition of the Mediterranean Games in 1975. At the time, the edition was hosted by the city of Algiers.
