XVII Mediterranean Games will be held in the Turkish city of Mersin from June 20 to June 30 June in 2013. On that occasion, a seminar for Heads of Missions was held in Mersin, which was attended by representatives of the Organizing Committees of the Mediterranean Games "Mersin 2013.", members of the Executive Board of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games as well as 24 representatives of all member countries. During the seminar, technical details about the organization and procedures concerning accreditation, accommodation, transportation, logistics, as well as sports, cultural and educational programs. The delegates also had the opportunity to visit some of the chambers and grounds provided for competitions and one of two newly built accommodation blocks at Mersin University. Mediterranean Games in Mersin are expected to receive around 4,500 athletes which will compete in 28 sports in total, of which 24 are a part of the Olympic Games, and two Paralympic disciplines: swimming and athletics, as well as karate, bowling and water skiing. The participants will be staying at several units on various locations, which will all work together as a Mediterranean village, and that will present a special challenge for the organization. Mersin University will host the largest number of athletes and official persons and will be the core of Mediterranean village. It will own an International Zone with an Internet hall, post office, bank and other facilities for the athletes, then administrative offices, meeting rooms, etc.. Competitions will be held on a total of 52 fields in Mersin and surrounding areas: Adana, Tarsus, and Erdemli and Kızkalesi. Most of the existing halls and fields are under renovation, and ten of them are brand new facilities, currently under construction, including a basketball arena with 7,500 seats and a stadium with a capacity of 25,000 seats for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games. In order to popularize the Games, the Organizing Committee has established cooperation with the Turkish national TV company "Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT)," which will ensure the broadcast of the opening and closing ceremony of the Mediterranean Games and the minimum of 40 hours of sport programs, but also allow broadcasting to the TV stations from the Mediterranean countries free of charge. A major contribution to the Games will be provided by over 5,000 volunteers, and a "Kareta", a green sea turtle, whose small number of hatcheries are located along the coast of Mersins, was chosen to be the mascot as well as the official logo of XVII Mediterranean Games "Mersin 2013.".
