The 2013 Mediterranean Games (Turkish: 2013 Akdeniz Oyunları), officially known as the XVII Mediterranean Games (Turkish: XVII Akdeniz Oyunları) and commonly known as Mersin 2013, was an international multi-sport event held from 20 to 30 June 2013 in Mersin, Turkey. Mersin was announced as the host city at the General Assembly of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (CIJM) on 23 February 2011. Mersin is the second city in Turkey after İzmir to host the Mediterranean Games. All 24 member National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of the ICMG participated in the Games. The official programme for the Games is featuring events in 27 different sports.

XVII Mediterranean Games
Emblem of the 2013 Mediterranean Games
Host cityMersin
CountryTurkey
Edition17th
Nations24
Athletes3,064
Sport27
Events264
Opening20 June 2013
Closing30 June 2013
Opened byPrime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Main venueMersin Arena
Websitemersin2013.gov.tr
Poster of the Mediterranean Games in Mersin.

Background

edit

The Mediterranean Games is a multi-sport event, much like the Summer Olympics (albeit on a much smaller scale), with participation exclusively from countries around the Mediterranean Sea where Europe, Africa and Asia meet. The Games started in 1951 and are held every four years. The idea of holding the Mediterranean Games originated with Muhammed Taher Pasha, who was the chairman of the Egyptian Olympic Committee and the vice-president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), at a meeting during the 1948 London Olympics. The Games "were designed specifically to bring together the Muslim and European countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin" to promote understanding through sporting competition.[1][2]

The first edition of the Mediterranean Games was held in the Egyptian city of Alexandria in 1951 and attracted 734 competitors from 10 nations. Initially the female athletes were not allowed to compete. Beginning by the fifth (1976) game in Tunis female athletes were also allowed. Turkey hosted the Games for the first time in 1971 in Izmir—the sixth edition of the Games.[3]

Bidding process

edit

Host city selection

edit

Cities from three countries submitted their bids to host the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Two Greek cities, Volos and Larisa, made a combined bid. This was the fourth attempt by the Croatian city of Rijeka to host the Mediterranean Games. Rijeka had lost its bids in 1995 for the 1997 games, in 1999 for the 2001 games and in 2003 for the 2009 Mediterranean Games.[4] The voting for the selection of the host of the 2013 Games was held in Pescara, Italy, host of the 2009 Mediterranean Games, on 27 October 2007. The election was conducted by the Mediterranean Games Bid Committee. At the end of the first round of voting, only Volos-Larisa and Rijeka remained; Mersin was eliminated after having received only thirteen votes. In the first round, Volos-Larisa and Rijeka received 31 and 24 votes, respectively. In the second round, the Greek bid of Volos-Larisa received enough votes to be elected as the host. The final round was comparatively more competitive, which was demonstrated by a three-vote difference between the final two bids.[5]

2013 Mediterranean Games bidding results
City NOC Round 1 Round 2
Volos-Larisa   Greece 31 37
Rijeka   Croatia 24 34
Mersin   Turkey 13  —
 
 
Mersin
Location of Mersin in Turkey

Greece was stripped of the hosting rights on 28 January 2011 because of its financial crisis.[6] The ICMG cited Greece's inability to conform the organisational requirements as a reason for this action. Culture and Tourism Minister of Greece Pavlos Geroulanos said that the initially proposed budget "would have wasted money on a big, spendthrift party, [and that] [t]here are much better things [they] could spend that money on in the current situation".[6] ICMG conducted an on-line poll on 23 February to decide the new host. Three cities—Tarragona, Tripoli and Mersin—offered to host the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Citizens of the 21 member nations of the ICMG cast their votes to select the host. Mersin was selected after it received more than half of the total votes, and on 4 March, ICMG president Amar Addad officially handed over the hosting rights of the 2013 Games to Mersin.[7][8]

Development and preparation

edit

Organisation

edit

The organising committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games consisted of eight members: president of the committee is Minister of Youth and Sports Suat Kılıç, Hakan Hakyemez, Governor of Mersin Hasan Basri Güzeloğlu, Mehmet Baykan, Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Macit Özcan, rector of the Mersin University K. Aydin Süha, Hasan Albayrak and president of the Turkish Olympic Committee Uğur Erdener. It was in charge of "organising and controlling the essential preparations".[9]

Costs

edit

After the success of the bid in February 2011, the Ministry of Youth and Sports spent 215 million on building the venues and infrastructure up to 31 December 2012. The Ministry has allocated a budget of 400 million to cover building the venues and infrastructure for the Games; at least 100 million was spent on the development of the Games village and the main stadium, and 200 million was assigned for other venues.[10]

Logo and mascot

edit
 
Karetta, mascot of the 2013 Games

The official logo of this edition of the Mediterranean Games featured a loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) getting out of sea, with water underneath it. An orange is shown above its back, which represents the dry summer subtropical climate of Mediterranean.[11]

Karetta was the official mascot of the Mersin Games. The organisers of the 2013 Games have taken steps to promote the Games through its mascot. It was used in various events like the 34th Istanbul Marathon, Third Citrus Festival and others.[12][13][14]

Venues

edit

The main stadium of the 2013 Mediterranean Games is Mersin Olympic Stadium in Yenişehir district of Mersin. The stadium hosted both the opening and closing ceremonies.[15] A total of 38 venues were used to host the events during the Games, 13 of them for training purposes only. The events took place in several venues at different districts of Mersin and neighboring city of Adana.[16]

List of venues, showing the city, venue, sport and venue capacity
City Venue Sport Capacity Ref
Erdemli Erdemli Shooting Range Shooting 1,550 [16]
Mersin Nevin Yanıt Athletics Complex Athletics 4,500 [16]
Paralympic athletics
Mersin Adnan Menderes Blvd Cycling [16]
Athletics Half marathon & 20 km walk
Mersin Mersin University, Çiftlikköy Campus Hall No. 1 Judo [16]
Badminton
Tarsus Tarsus Arena Boxing 1,500 [16][17]
Mersin Servet Tazegül Arena Basketball 7,500 [16]
Volleyball finals
Adana Adana Equestrian Club Equestrian [16][18]
Mersin Tevfik Sırrı Gür Stadium Football 20,000 [16]
Mersin CNR Yenişehir Fair Ground Hall A Fencing [16]
Table tennis
Mersin CNR Yenişehir Fair Ground Hall C Wrestling [16]
Mersin Mersin District 7 Sports Hall Table tennis training [16][19]
Adana Yüreğir Serinevler Arena Handball women's 2,500 [16]
Adana Sakıp Sabancı Sports Hall Handball training [16]
Tarsus Seyfi Ali Türkoğlu Field Football training [16]
Tarsus Anafartalar Field Football training [16]
Tarsus Tarsus City Stadium Football training [16]
Mersin Mersin Volleyball Hall Volleyball men's 1,000 [16]
Erdemli Erdemli Sports Hall Weightlifting 500 [16]
Adana Lütfullah Aksungur Sports Hall Handball men's 1,750 [16]
Adana Seyhan Dam Rowing 1,000 [16]
Canoeing
Kızkalesi Kızkalesi Beach Beach volleyball [16]
Mersin Macit Özcan Sports Complex Swimming Pool Water polo [16]
Mersin Edip Buran Arena Taekwondo 1,750 [16][20]
Karate
Mersin Mezitli Sports Hall Judo training 1,500 [16][21]
Mersin Seyfi Alanya Sports Hall Badminton training 500 [16][22]
Mersin Gelişim Koleji Sports Hall Volleyball women's training [16]
Mersin Toroslar Bocce Facility Bocce 1,000 [16]
Mersin Davultepe Sports Hall Boxing training [16]
Mersin Mersin Gymnastics Hall Rhythmic gymnastics
Artistic gymnastics
1,000 [16]
Mersin İçel Anadolu High School Volleyball men's training [16]
Mersin Mersin Tourism and Hotel Management High School Volleyball men's training [16]
Tarsus 3 Ocak Field Football training [16]
Tarsus Burhanettin Kocamaz Stadium Football 4,200 [16][23]
Mersin Koray Aydın Stadium Football training 8,000 [16][24]
Mersin Mersin Olympic Swimming Pool Swimming 1,000 [16]
Paralympic swimming
Mersin Mersin Marina Sailing [16]
Mersin Mersin University, Çiftlikköy Campus Hall No. 2 Volleyball men's 500 [16]
Mersin Mersin Tennis Complex Tennis 3,000 [16]
Mersin Mersin University, Çiftlikköy Campus Swimming Pool Water polo training [16]

The Games

edit

Sports

edit

There were significant changes in the programme for the Mersin Games in comparison to that of the 2009 Mediterranean Games held in Pescara. Three new sports, archery, badminton and taekwondo, were the special additions. The programme for the Games featured a total of 27 different sports. Two disabled sports—athletics and swimming—were contested by the athletes with physical disabilities. Even though it was planned, equestrian competitions were not held.

 ●  Opening ceremony  ●  Competitions  ●  Event finals  ●  Closing ceremony
June
Sport 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Ceremonies    ●       ●   
  Archery    ●       2       2   
  Artistic gymnastics    1       1       2       10   
  Athletics    9       10       12       13   
  Badminton    ●       ●       ●       ●       2       2   
  Basketball    ●       ●       ●       ●       1   
  Beach volleyball    ●       ●       ●       2   
  Bocce    ●       2       4       2       2   
  Boxing    ●       ●       ●       ●       10   
  Canoeing    ●       3       3   
  Cycling    1       1   
  Fencing    3       3   
  Football    ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       1   
  Handball    ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       1       1   
  Judo    5       5       4   
  Karate    7       3   
  Rhythmic gymnastics    ●       1   
  Rowing    ●       ●       7   
  Sailing    ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       4   
  Shooting    3       3       1       3       2       1   
  Swimming    9       7       10       8       6   
  Table tennis    ●       ●       2       ●       2   
  Taekwondo    3       3       2   
  Tennis    ●       ●       ●       ●       2       2   
  Volleyball    ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       ●       1       1   
  Water polo    ●       ●       ●       ●       1   
  Water skiing    ●       2   
  Weightlifting    6       6       4       4       6       2   
  Wrestling    4       3       6       4       3   

Participating nations

edit

All 24 member countries of the ICMG participated in the Games.[25][26] This was the highest number of nations in any edition of the Mediterranean Games. Macedonia (FYROM) made its debut in the Games.[27]

Medal table

edit

  *   Host nation (Turkey)

Final medal table, from official website of 2013 Mediterranean Games[28]
RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Italy705264186
2  Turkey*474336126
3  France25264596
4  Spain21322982
5  Egypt21222467
6  Greece15182659
7  Slovenia13111135
8  Serbia12111134
9  Croatia117927
10  Tunisia9172248
11–24Remaining23244996
Totals (24 entries)267263326856

See also

edit
edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Abend, Lisa; Pingree, Geoff (24 June 2005). "Where Muslim, European nations compete; The 21-nation Mediterranean Games open Friday night in Spain". The Christian Science Monitor. Archived from the original on 15 April 2016. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  2. ^ "History – Les Jeux Mediterraneens" (in French). Cijm.org.gr. International Committee of Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 30 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Mediterranean Games". Cijm.org.gr. International Committee of Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Disappointment in Croatia as it loses 2009 Med Games bid". Associated Press Worldstream. 18 October 2003. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2012.
  5. ^ "Greece to host 2013 Mediterranean Games". Greekembassy.org. Press Office of the Embassy of Greece in Washington D.C. Athens News Agency. 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  6. ^ a b Nicholas, Paphitis (28 January 2011). "Greece loses Mediterranean Games over budget cuts". AP Worldstream. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  7. ^ "Mediterranean Games go to Mersin after Debt-Ridden Greece Loses". 24 February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Mediterranean Games "Mersin 2013"". Cijm.org.gr. International Committee for the Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 7 December 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Organizing Committee". Mersin2013.gov.tr. Organising Committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  10. ^ "Mersin Akdeniz Oyunları'na hazır". Hürriyet Daily News (in Turkish). Istanbul. 11 January 2013. Archived from the original on 13 January 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013. Mersin'de, 20–30 Haziran tarihlerinde düzenlenecek Akdeniz Oyunları için tesisler 13 ayda test kullanıma hazır hale gelecek
  11. ^ "Organization – Corporate Identity". Mersin2013.gov.tr. Organising Committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 18 June 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Karetta Walked From Asia to Europe". Mersin2013.gov.tr. Organising Committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Karetta Introduced the Mediterranean Games at the Citrus Festival". Mersin2013.gov.tr. Organising Committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  14. ^ "Mascot Karetta at the Football Fields". Mersin2013.gov.tr. Organising Committee of the 2013 Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  15. ^ "Akdeniz Oyunları için geri sayım". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 13 March 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "2013 Akdeniz Oyunlarının Oynanacağı Tesisler" (in Turkish). XVII Akdeniz Oyunları. Archived from the original on 25 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Tarsus Spor Salonu" (in Turkish). Mersin Gençlik Hizmetleri ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  18. ^ "2013 Akdeniz Oyunları" (in Turkish). Adana Atlı Spor Kulübü Derneği. Archived from the original on 15 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  19. ^ "7. Bölge Spor Salonu" (in Turkish). Mersin Gençlik Hizmetleri ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  20. ^ "Edip Buran Spor Salonu" (in Turkish). Mersin Gençlik Hizmetleri ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  21. ^ "Mezitli Spor Salonu" (in Turkish). Mersin Gençlik Hizmetleri ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  22. ^ "Seyfi Alanya Spor Salonu" (in Turkish). Mersin Gençlik Hizmetleri ve Spor İl Müdürlüğü. Archived from the original on 6 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  23. ^ "Burhanettin Kocamaz Stadı" (in Turkish). Soccer Way. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  24. ^ "Koray Aydın Stadı" (in Turkish). Soccer Way. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  25. ^ "N.O.Cs". Cijm.org.gr. International Committee of Mediterranean Games. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  26. ^ "Participating Countries". Cijm.org.gr. International Committee for the Mediterranean Games. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 18 January 2013.
  27. ^ "Mediterranean Games". Cijm.org.gr. International Committee of Mediterranean Games. Retrieved 18 January 2012.[permanent dead link]
  28. ^ "Medal Table". 2013 Mediterranean Games. 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
Preceded by Mediterranean Games
Mersin

2013
Succeeded by