Almer�a, Spain will be facing the greatest challenge of its history as the XV Mediterranean Games start tomorrow, writes Inas Mazhar Elite sportsmen and women from 21 countries will compete in 24 sports starting tomorrow, 24 June, to 3 July. The official symbol is three circles that represent the three continents involved, these being bathed in the lower part by the Mediterranean waters. The official mascot for Almer�a 2005 is called Indalete. It is a creation that mixes the prehistoric symbol that represents Almer�a, the Indalo, with the sun, which is another of the signs of identity of the land, and with the colours that make up the star of Almer�a 2005. The capital of Almer�a will be the main venue for the XV Mediterranean Games. Six municipalities of the province will also host the Games, bringing two other cultural subvenues. The competition subvenues will be El-Ejido (football and basketball), V�car (handball and football), Roquetas de Mar (handball, table tennis, fencing and football), Huércal de Almer�a (wrestling and tennis), Gàdor (shooting) and Cuevas de Almanzora (rowing and canoeing). Other sports will be held in the capital. Adra and Vera will be cultural subvenues. Representing Europe are Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cyprus, Croatia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro. Five countries are from Africa -- Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia, host of the 2001 Games. Only three Asian nations are entered -- Lebanon, Syria and Turkey. The Egyptians take part in the 15th edition of the Mediterranean Games with a 233-man delegation which will be participating in 17 sports. Egypt believes it can win 20 medals: six in weightlifting, four in wrestling, three in karate, three in boxing and a medal each in track and field, gymnastics, rowing and shooting. Swimming, judo, equestrian, golf and fencing each expect a sixth place finish. Team sports such as handball, basketball and volleyball will be footing the bill at the Games after admitting they would neither win a medal or finish among the top six. However, the Ministry of Youth and the Egyptian Olympic Committee agreed to allow them to participate to gain more experience. Officials claim it would be a good opportunity for these team sports and would save the ministry and the federations money since participating in the Games would be cheaper than holding a training camp abroad. Head of the Egyptian Olympic Committee Mounir Sabet announced that a gold medal winner will receive LE60,000 as prize money. A silver medalist will earn LE40,000 whereas a bronze medalist will receive LE20,000. "Team sports are expecting no medals," Sabet said, adding that handball initially predicted a fourth place finish, "then changed its mind after the draw put Egypt in a tough group that includes the top three teams in the world. "However, we hope any team sport would surprise us with a medal. We would then study the prize money, they should get," Sabet said. Egypt's Mohamed Taher Pasha was the founder of the Mediterranean Games. As soon as the 1948 London Olympic Games was over, Taher Pasha began building up a vibrant sports movement which aimed to set up a meeting place for nations which were already linked by centuries of dialogue. Taher Pasha's project was born in a climate of general rebirth after the ravages of World War II. Born in Egypt in 1879, he was to become a great personality in the sports world. With his conviction that sporting activities can serve as an outstanding vehicle for peace and brotherhood, Taher Pasha founded the Egyptian Aero Club in 1931. From 1934 to 1947 he was president of the International Flying Federation and from 1936 to 1952, he was chairman of the Egyptian Fencing Federation. His energies were rewarded with prestigious posts on the International Olympic Committee. Having served for many years as the head of protocol, he became a member of the executive committee from 1952 to 1957. Between 1960 and 1964 he was the assistant to the then president of the IOC, Avery Brundage. He died in 1970, the year before the Izmir Games. The first Mediterranean Games were held in Alexandria in 1951. Other hosts have been Barcelona '55, Beirut '59, Napoli '63, Tunis '67, Izmir '71, Algiers '75, Split '79, Casablanca' 83, Latakia '87, Athens '91, Lanuedoc '93, Bari '97 and Tunis '2001. Egypt came first at the Beirut Games in 1959 and finished third in Alexandria '51 and Barcelona '55. France and Italy have made up a one-two punch at the top of the final medals standings in all other previous editions save for 1979 when Yugoslavia claimed top position.
