The Mediterranean Games is yet one more event which owes its birth to Greece. Two distinguished people in the world of sport, Ioannis Ketseas -who also served as President of SEGAS (1930-1932)- and Angelos Volonakis were the leaders in establishing the Games for the countries washed by the Mediterranean Sea.

The desire of SEGAS administrators to organise Mediterranean games can be discerned in the proceedings of SEGAS Board meetings in the 1930s. The President, M. Rinopoulos, proposed establishing such games in June 1934. The proposal was accepted and Italy, Egypt, Palestine and France responded positively to an invitation. The matter was discussed at many meetings throughout the year but, despite the fact that the Board of Directors unanimously recognised the significance of such an event, a decision could not be taken. The basic objection expressed was the prohibitive cost that such a large event would require. After many postponements, discussions died down and only came back to the fore in 1948.

The poster for the first
Mediterranean Games

After the War, Mohammed Taher Pasha, a member and vice-president of the IOC, Angelos Volonakis and Ioannis Ketseas again raised the issue of organising Mediterranean Games, while the whole effort was put under the aegis of the Hellenic Olympic Committee. The first Games, which proved to be an apotheosis of Greco-Egyptian friendship, were to take place in 1951 in Egypt. The unifying force of athletics shone in the oath that the athletes took to “…come to the first Mediterranean Games to compete in a spirit of good sportsmanship for the honour of our countries and the glory of Athletics”. The Greek presence was felt with the excellent performance of its athletes who managed to win 3 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals.

The success of the first Games on the one hand validated the efforts of its supporters and on the other hand sent out a positive message for other such efforts. In the 2nd Mediterranean Games which took place four years later in Barcelona, it was decided to form supervisory organ - a sort of executive committee. This was realised in June 1961. Following a proposal by Greece, this body was named the Mediterranean Games International Committee (D.E.M.A.) and comprised a 10 member executive committee permanently headquartered in Athens.

The Mediterranean Games of 1963. O. Simicek and I. Ketseas are seated in the centre

Initially, the Games took place every four years, one year before the Olympic Games. A 1993 decision by DEMA changed this and the Mediterranean Games were henceforth to be held the year after the Olympic Games. From 1951 the number of countries taking part in the Games has gradually increased. The 10 countries that took part in Barcelona increased to number 19 in 1993. In 1967 women were permitted to take part. The 14^th Mediterranean Games took place in Tunis in 2001 and preparations are in place for 2005 and 2009. Patras is a candidate for the 16^th Games.