At the General Assembly of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG) held on 14 and 15 October in Mersin (Turkey), Spanish city Tarragona was chosen to be host of the Mediterranean Games 2017. With only two votes less Egyptian city Alexandria was second while Tripoli (Libya) gave up its candidature due to current situation in that country . At the Assembly were present representatives from all 24 National Olympic Committees and delegation of Montenegrin Olympic Committee was headed by its president Dušan Simonović. Activity and financial reports of ICMG for the past period were adopted as well as several amendments of the Statutes of this organization. Financial report showed specific surplus which will be used for realization of new programs. Organizational Committee of the Mediterranean Games in Mersin 2013 presented to the Assembly its work and progress achieved in short period of time, after taking over organisation from Greek Volos. Besides 23 existing sport facilities, some of which delegates had a chance to visit, host will build 10 new as well as already started Mediterranean Village for accommodation of 5000 participants including accompanying technical and social facilities. Also was planned addition of the sports program with three new sports – badminton, taekwondo and water-skiing. Delegates of the General Assembly of ICMG agreed that it is necessary to further work on improvement of the Mediterranean Games. In that sense, it is very important to motivate top athletes to participate, especially those from team sports which will lead towards raising the level of this international friendly sport event with long tradition. Executive Board of ICMG invited delegate to consider requests of the Olympic Committees from Palestine and Israel to become members of this organization, which caused controversy and opposite opinion among some representatives from Arabian countries. Although both Olympic Committees are fulltime members of IOC, and looking from sports angle and based on geographic belonging, athletes from both countries should be granted to participate at the Mediterranean Games, it was concluded that this issue must be treated with great attention. President Simonović had several meetings with colleagues from other National Olympic Committees and also a meeting with the Commission for cooperation and development of ICMG where were considered possibilities for financial support of Montenegrin athletes for the next year’s preparations for participation at the Mediterranean Games 2013. In Mersin were celebrated two important jubilees, 60 years of Mediterranean Games and 50 years of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games, by several sport and cultural events in the city, while the General Assembly celebrated these jubilees by Festive ceremony and delivery of honorary recognitions.
