This major international multi-sport extravaganza will bring an estimated 4,000 athletes together from three Continents, 24 Countries and 32 sports, in the City of Mersin on Turkey’s magnificent south coast this coming weekend. The Tarsus Mersin City area, which has an impressive 6,000 year history and where Paul the Apostle was born, is located between Antalya and Adana. Part of this area was originally granted as a wedding gift to Cleopatra when she visited here with her Roman General Mark Anthony!  Even the Emperor Julius Caesar was a visitor here in about the year 60 B.C.

 

The Mediterranean Games, established in Egypt in 1951, much like the Summer Olympics, were designed to bring athletes together to promote understanding through sporting competition. Staged every four years, for the athletes involved, as with the PanAm Games and Asian Games, the scale and sense of occasion are about as near to the Olympic Games experience as is possible. In this case, the best of Europe, Africa and Asia will take part. A total of 52 different facilities will be used between June 20th and 30th. The main Stadium will be the Mersin Olympic Stadium in the City’s Yenisehir district. This is where the athletes will assemble en masse for the major ceremonies later this week. 

 

Waterski will be one of the few watersports involved next weekend. Featured will be the top Slalom Skiers from eight Mediterranean countries – Cyprus, Greece, France, Italy, Lebanon, Serbia, Spain and Turkey. All have Federations affiliated to the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF). The IWWF is recognized by the IOC as the sole authority for both Waterski and Wakeboard and recently made its first bid to have Wakeboard included in the 2020 Olympic Games. 

 

Of the 26 Slalom athletes attending, the strong medal contenders in these Mediterranean Games will certainly include the international stars, Clementine Lucine FRA, Carlo Allais ITA, and Ageliki Andriopoulou GRE. All have won honors in the very successful World Cup Series in recent years. Clementine Lucine, a ten-time Europe and Africa Overall Waterski Champion, also holds the current World Tricks Record. Ageliki Andriopoulou is a two-time World Jump Champion and has taken World Cup titles in both Russia and Malaysia. Carlo Allais, one of Italy’s greatest three event athletes, really excels in Slalom. Having taken a World Gold Medal at Junior level, he went on to take the Europe Africa Open Gold Medal. He will be hard to beat next weekend. As ever, there may be some surprises from the other talented Skiers.

 

The Waterski Slalom Course, installed and Homologated by the IWWF, is located actually on the Mediterranean Sea and is quite spectacular. An enormous 400 meter special protection barrier runs the full length of the competition area. A purpose designed three-storey steel Judges Tower has been placed mid course. The competition boats and back-up service will be provided by Nautique. With plenty of spectator space right on the water’s edge, the atmosphere promises to be very special indeed at these sun soaked Mediterranean Games! Temperature of 33C / 95Fh is forecasted.

 

 

09.00 – 12.00 Official Practice

 

10.00 – Men Series 1 – Round 1

11.00 – Women Series 1– Round 1

12.00 – Men Series 2– Round 1

12.45 – Women Series 2 – Round 1

 

15.00 – Men Series 1– Round 2

16.00 – Women Series 1– Round 2

17.00 – Men Series 2– Round 2

17.45 – Women Series 2– Round 2

 

10.00 – Men Finals

11.00 – Women Finals

12.45 – Men & Women Award Ceremony

 

 

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