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Mediterranean Games

CIJM

Last modified: 2023-11-25 by zachary harden
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[Mediterranean Games flag]
by Erik Bell, 14 September 2003.

See also:

Mediterranean Games flag

I saw this flag of mediterranean games on tv, on the opening ceremony and games of Tunis 2001 Games. As far as I know the three rings represent three continents that has coast on the Mediterranean Sea, and the blue color represents the sea.
Onur Özgün, September 9, 2001.

That's the Mediterranean Games flag indeed. At least the same one was used in 1979 on VIII games held in Split, Croatia (then in Yugoslavia), as could be seen on 1979 Yugoslav post stamps, but probably the emblem (and flag) is older. The wavy pattern of the rings in their lower part is, of course, reminding on the image on wavy sea surface.
Željko Heimer, September 9, 2001.

I finally found out what the Mediterranean Games Flag looks like. The following is from the official website of the 2005 Mediterranean Games:

"The symbol of the Mediterranean Games consists of three rings symbolically representing Asia, Africa and Europe, which are the three continents involved in this competition. The rings describe a wavy line in their lower part, as if the Mediterranean Sea waters bathed them. This symbol can be seen, for example, on the Mediterranean Flag, a light blue background with the rings in white. During the closing ceremony, the flag is transferred to the country of the city chosen for the organisation of the next Mediterranean Games."

Erik Bell, 14 September 2003.

Rules on the Mediterranean Games symbols

Here are the CIJM rules concerning the Mediterranean Games Logo and Flag:

  • IV - Symbole et Drapeau du C. I. J. M.
    Le symbole du C.I.J.M. et des Jeux Méditerranéens se compose de trois anneaux se reflétant symboliquement dans la mer et représentant les trois continents qui bordent la région méditerranéenne. Le drapeau du C.I.J.M. et des Jeux Méditerranéens se compose du symbole de couleur blanche sur fond bleu azur.

  • 3.1 -Cérémonie d'ouverture
    Suivra alors une sonnerie de trompette et aux accents d'une cantate , le drapeau du C.I.J.M. sera hissé au mat prévu à cet effet.

  • 3.2 -Cérémonie de clôture
    Aux accents de l'hymne national du pays invitant, son drapeau est hissé au mât prévu à cet effet à droite du mât central. Puis le drapeau du pays de la ville choisie pour organiser les prochains Jeux Méditerranéens est hissé au mât de gauche tandis que retentit son hymne national. Le Maire de la ville hôte rejoint alors le Président du C.I.J.M. et lui remet le drapeau des Jeux Méditerranéens. Le Président du C.I.J.M. le transmet au Maire de la ville hôte des Jeux Méditerranéens suivants. Après le discours de clôture du Président du C.I.J.M., le drapeau du C.I.J.M. est lentement amené au mât d'honneur aux accents d'une cantate et porté horizontalement en dehors de l'arène.

Reported by Erik Bell, 14 September 2003.

Note: This English translation was translated with "Babelfish", with some editing on my part.
Erik Bell, 14 September 2003.

  • IV - SYMBOL AND FLAG OF THE C.I.J.M.
    The symbol of the C.I.J.M. and of the Mediterranean Games is composed of three rings reflecting themselves symbolically in the sea and representing the three continents which border the Mediterranean area. The flag of the C.I.J.M. and of the Mediterranean Games of the symbol of white color on blue bottom azure is composed.

  • 3.1 - Opening Ceremony
    Then follows the ringing of a trumpet and with the accents of a cantata, the flag of the C.I.J.M. will be hoisted with the Chechmate? envisaged for this purpose.

  • 3.2 - Closing Ceremony
    With the accents of the national anthem of the host country, its flag is hoisted on the mast envisaged for this purpose on the right of the central mast. Then the flag of the country of the city chosen to organize next Mediterranean Games is hoisted on the mast on the left of the central mast while its national anthem resounds. The Mayor of the host city joined the President of the C.I.J.M then. and the flag of the Mediterranean Games is given to him. The President of the C.I.J.M. transmits the flag to the Mayor of the host city of the following Mediterranean Games. After the closing speech of the President of the C.I.J.M., the flag of the C.I.J.M. is slowly lowered from the mast of honor to the accents of a cantata and is horizontally carried away from the arena.

Reported by Erik Bell, 14 September 2003.

About the Medierranean Games

Here a few more historical details on the Games, from Babnet Tunisie, 24 June 2005 (in French).

The father of the Mediterranean Games is Dr. Mohamed Taher Pasha (1879-1970), from Egypt. Taher Pasha, a Doctor in Political Sciences, believed that sport was a means to achieve peace and fraternity. He founded the Egyptian Flying Club in 1931 and served as the President of the International Aeronautics Federation from 1934 to 1947. He was President of the Egyptian Federation of Fencing from 1936 and 1952. Taher Pasha was also Chief of the Protocol of the International Olympic Committee and Member of the Executive Commission of the IOC from 1952 to 1957. From 1960 to 1964, he was Assistant of Avery Brundage, President of the CIO. Following the Summer Olympic Games held in London in 1948, Taher Pasha convinced the National Olympic Committees of the Mediterranean countries to create the Mediterranean Games.

The first Mediterranean Games took place in Alexandria (Egypt), from 15 to 20 October 1951. The next ten Games were held every four years, twelve months before the Summer Olympic Games: Barcelona (Spain), 1955; Beirut (Lebanon), 1959; Naples (Italy), 1963, Tunis (Tunisia), 1967, Izmir (Turkay), 1971; Algiers (Algeria), 1975; Split (Yugosavia), 1979; Casablanca (Morocco), 1983, Latakieh (Egypt), 1987; Athens, 1991. Then it was decided to move the Games the next year after the Summer Olympic Games: Montpellier (France), 1993; Bari (Italy), 1997; Tunis (Tunisia), 2001; Almeria (Spain), 2005.

Ivan Sache, July 2005.

[2005 Mediterranean Games] 2:3
image by António Martins, 03 Feb 2005

The Mediterranean Games are a kind of Olympics joining sportsmen from the Mediterranean basin countries. They'll be held this year in Almería, Spain.
The Games' logo (three interlocked rings) shows in the 2005 Games logo: A "fat" five-pointed star made of five elements in the five olympic colors.
The logo exists with and without white spaces between the elements, so I'm not sure which is used in the Games flags.
António Martins, February 03, 2005.

The 15th Mediterranean Games were inaugurated in Almeria (Spain) by King Juan Carlos on 24 June 2005. There are 21 countries taking part to the Games.
Ivan Sache, July 2005.