Tarragona Mediterranean Games will have to wait until 2018

Tarragona (CNA).- The Catalan city of Tarragona was supposed to host the 2017 Mediterranean Games. However, the start of the 18th edition of the event will have to wait until the 22^nd of June 2018. As announced by the President of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG), Amar Addadi, in an interview with the Algerie Press Service, the Games have had to be postponed due to the “financial implications” arising from the delay in the formation of a new Spanish Government. “The 10 months of deadlock” have affected “the sporting activities and the preparation of the Tarragona Games”, Addadi stated. The Games are pending the receiving of €9 million from the Spanish Government to cover the operating budget and another €3 million to finance the construction of an aquatic centre. Uncertainty about the arrival of these resources and the fact that the organisation has achieved little more than half of the €20 million foreseen from sponsorship has triggered the decision. Thus, the 18th edition of the Games will be held in Tarragona from the 22^nd of June to the 1^st of July 2018.

The Catalan Secretary General of Sports, Gerard Figueras, lamented that “beyond good words”, the Spanish Government has not provided the resources agreed to the Tarragona Mediterranean Games. “Clearly this is not the desired scenario for anyone”, he stated. The games are expected to bring an investment of €130 million and create 1,000 direct jobs and much more indirectly.

“The positive consequence is that we gain one more year, but the sporting forecast was not this one”, Figueras underlined, while assuring that the works on the facilities follow a good rhythm and that the Catalan Government and the City Council of Tarragona are complying with their commitments.

Regarding the position of the Spanish Government, Gerard Figueras pointed out that, once a new Secretary of State for Sport is appointed, “someone should offer explanations” for something “unprecedented” as is the postponement of a competition as important as the Mediterranean Games.

Anger among Tarragona City Hall opposition groups

The political groups in opposition in Tarragona City Council, however, assessed the postponement as a "failure" and called it "ridiculous". Furthermore, they recalled that they had already warned of the low viability of the event. After an extraordinary meeting of speakers this Monday morning in Tarragona, the groups showed their anger against what they consider a “lack of transparency” and criticised the municipal government for justifying itself by citing the lack of financial commitment from Spain.

A ten-year-old dream

Tarragona’s quest for the Mediterranean Games started in March 2007 with full support from the Municipal Government and other important figures such as the then King Juan Carlos I of Spain. 

The candidature for the 2017 Games also includes 12 more venues in towns nearby Tarragona, many of them on the Costa Daurada, such as Calafell, with fencing, football and table tennis; Cambrils, with judo, karate and archery and Constantí (weightlifting). Tarragona will hold athletics, basketball, football, gymnastics, golf, swimming, tennis and water polo, among others.

To date, 23 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia have participated regularly in the Mediterranean Games, a competition held every four years. The Catalan city takes over from Mersin (Turkey), the host city for the 2013 Games, and will be the venue for 31 sport specialties, including the latest incorporation of the triathlon.