The history of the Mediterranean Games dates back to the year 1951.
They started in London, thanks to the initiative of a Turkish doctor
in Politics called Taher Pasha. He wanted to make the competition
a symbol of peace in a period clouded by the tension among great
powers. From that moment, the Games have been held in thirteen cities,
being Tunis the only one that has hosted the competition on two
occasions.
But the origin of the Mediterranean Games can be traced back to
1948. It was more than half a century ago, during the celebration
of the Olympic Games of London, when the members of the National
Olympic Committees of the Mediterranean countries considered the
idea of celebrating games that joined the different cultures of
the Mediterranean basin.
The first celebration of the Mediterranean Games took place from
15 to 20 October 1951 in Alexandria (Egypt).
Mohamed Taher Pasha is considered as being the father of the Mediterranean
Games. In 1931 he founded the Egyptian Aero Club. From 1934 to 1947
he was the President of the International Flying Federation, and
from 1936 to 1952 he managed the Egyptian Fencing Federation. His
effort was rewarded with high duties at the International Olympic
Committee. He remained for a long time as Head of Protocol and then
he became a member of the Executive Committee from 1952 to 1957.
From 1960 to 1964 he was the assistant to the then president of
the IOC, Avery Brundage
Almeria guide
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