A busy sporting calendar that threatened to break up pushed them to the back burner of the news. But the Mediterranean Games begin this weekend in Oran, Algeria (June 25 to July 5). They were initially planned for 2021, but were postponed for a year due to the health crisis.
Twenty-six nations, 24 sports, more than 3.000 athletes and nearly 5.000 volunteers mobilized. Strong. But the event struggles to get rid of a question: what place do the Mediterranean Games occupy today in the sports movement?
Bernard Amsalem, vice-president of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), responsible for directing the coordination commission for more than two years, answered questions from FrancsJeux.
FrancsJeux : How are the 2022 Mediterranean Games in Oran looking?
Bernard Amsalem : A lot of effort was made by the Algerian government for this event. Several new facilities have been built, including a 45.000-seat stadium for athletics and football. Several others have been renovated. Their architecture is very successful. The legacy of the Games has also been considered. For accommodation, the University City of Oran has been renovated, with a capacity of 4.000 beds for foreign delegations. Eurovision also made an effort, as part of its contract with the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (CIJM), with 84 hours of live broadcast in 16 countries, compared to only 4 during the previous edition in Tarragona. Everything is well structured and perfectly planned. The Games should go very well.
Is participation up to par?
We recorded the participation of 3.434 athletes from 26 countries, or around 6.100 people including officials and coaches. All countries and all sports played the game. The only exception is horse riding. We were thinking of removing it from the program, but we ultimately kept it because the Oran region has a long equestrian tradition. But the international federation (FEI) did not choose to include the event on its calendar. As a result, only 11 countries are present, while the organizing committee covers the horses' travel expenses. Several major equestrian sports nations will not participate, such as France, Spain and Italy.
In such a busy sporting calendar, what can we expect from the Mediterranean Games in terms of performances and level of competitions?
The competition is tough, especially this year. We know that this is not a world championship level event. But in several sports, such as wrestling, judo or weightlifting, where qualification for the Olympic Games is done by world ranking, Oran 2022 allows you to earn points. In athletics, the field reveals an interesting mix of young hopefuls, for whom the event will constitute a first international experience in their journey towards Paris 2024, and much more experienced athletes. The French selection, in particular, includes people like Alexandra Tavernier in the hammer, Thomas Jordier in the 400 m, Yohan Kowal in the half-marathon, Ludvy Vaillant in the 400 m hurdles, but also a hopeful in the 110 m hurdles, Just Kwaou-Mathey, who just beat his personal best in 13 sec 27.
The preparation for the event seems not to have always been very smooth. You yourself sounded the alarm last year about delays in the organization...
The Oran Mediterranean Games are financed by the Algerian government. Inevitably, there were delays linked to the slowness of certain State services and administrative burden, particularly for calls for tenders. We were worried. But everything was settled last November with the arrival of Mohamed Aziz Derouaz at the head of the organizing committee. He was a great international handball player, he is a former Minister of Sports. In two months, he put things back in order. He unlocked everything, including communication, digital... Today, everything is in place. The Algerian authorities attach great importance to this event. In terms of image, of course, but also of legacy. New or renovated equipment must contribute to the development of sports practice, especially among young people.
What place can the Mediterranean Games have in an increasingly busy international sports calendar, where multi-sport events are more and more numerous?
The Mediterranean Games were created in 1951. We are in the 19th edition. The time has come to rejuvenate them, with the addition of new sports. Urban disciplines, as a priority. In Oran, teqball is being demonstrated. We must go further, to rejuvenate the image, the public and participation. We will discuss it in November during the CIJM general assembly. For future editions, the program must take into account the evolution of society.
What does the future of the event look like?
The next edition has already been assigned. It will take place in 2026 in the Italian city of Taranto. We received only one application. The choice was all the more logical as the new president of the CIJM, Davide Tizzano, is Italian. For the next one, in 2030, the call for applications and the decision will take place in 2024. I would very much like to see a French application. France has not organized the Mediterranean Games since 1993. It could present a very good project, between Marseille and Nice. It would fit very well into the legacy of the Paris 2024 Games.
