 | |
| Host city | Split,Yugoslavia |
|---|---|
| Nations | 14 |
| Athletes | 2,408 |
| Events | 192 in 26sports |
| Opening | 15 September 1979 |
| Closing | 29 September 1979 |
| Opened by | Josip Broz Tito |
| Main venue | Gradski stadion u Poljudu |
The1979 Mediterranean Games, officially known as theVIII Mediterranean Games, and commonly known asSplit 1979, were the 8thMediterranean Games. The Games were held inSplit,Yugoslavia, from 15 to 29 September 1979, where 2,408 athletes (2,009 men and 399 women) from 14countries participated. There were a total of 192 medal events from 26 differentsports.
The games' mascot was aMediterranean monk seal named Adrijana.
The proposal for Split to host the Mediterranean Games was initiated in March 1969 by the local sports federation.[1] Following a series of meetings and negotiations with national sports bodies inZagreb andBelgrade, Split secured the right to submit a bid, surpassingRijeka due to its stronger sporting tradition.[1] Algiers was nevertheless selected to host the1975 Mediterranean Games with Split's bid postponed for the 1979 Games ensuring by that backing ofPresident of YugoslaviaJosip Broz Tito.[1] Tito highlighted the importance of Algiers hosting the Games to support the development of sports inAfrica.[1] Split's candidacy was officially confirmed in 1975, and preparations commenced, including the construction of new facilities such asPoljud Stadium and additional venues in Split and nearby towns.[1] The 1979 Games took place against the backdrop of global tensions, including theSoviet invasion of Afghanistan and conflicts in theMiddle East.[1]
Since Split could not bear the full financial burden, the Games were recognized as a pan-Yugoslav event, and funding was sourced through solidarity and cooperation between Yugoslavia’s socialist republics and autonomous provinces.[1] TheFederal Executive Council established the Committee of the VIII Mediterranean Games to oversee preparations.[2] Key figures includedStane Dolanc and several vice-presidents and committee members from politics, sports, and business.[2] Dolanc acknowledged existing problems among Mediterranean countries and suggested that the Games could foster positive processes.[3] The Games also facilitated diplomatic engagements, such as discussion between Josip Broz Tito andRabah Bitat regarding the outcomes of the6th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement inHavana,Cuba and a formal visit fromMalian PresidentMoussa Traoré.[3]
The sports program featured 192 events. The number in parentheses next to the sport is the number of medal events per sport.
Archery (details)(2)
Athletics (details)(37)
Basketball (details)(1)
Boxing (details)(11)
Canoeing (details)(13)
Cycling (details)(2)
Diving (details)(4)
Equestrian (details)(2)
Fencing (details)(4)
Field hockey (details)(1)
Football (details)(1)
Gymnastics (details)(14)
Handball (details)(2)
Judo (details)(8)
Rowing (details)(8)
Rugby union (details)(1)
Sailing (details)(3)
Shooting (details)(8)
Swimming (details)(26)
Table tennis (details)(7)
Tennis (details)(4)
Volleyball (details)(2)
Water polo (details)(1)
Weightlifting (details)(10)
Wrestling (details)(20)* Host nation (Yugoslavia)
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Yugoslavia* | 56 | 38 | 33 | 127 |
| 2 |  France | 55 | 40 | 34 | 129 |
| 3 |  Italy | 49 | 63 | 47 | 159 |
| 4 |  Spain | 16 | 20 | 32 | 68 |
| 5 |  Greece | 7 | 10 | 13 | 30 |
| 6 |  Turkey | 5 | 5 | 14 | 24 |
| 7 |  Egypt | 3 | 9 | 10 | 22 |
| 8 |  Algeria | 1 | 5 | 10 | 16 |
| 9 |  Tunisia | 1 | 2 | 9 | 12 |
| 10 |  Lebanon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 11 |  Syria | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 12 |  Morocco | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Totals (12 entries) | 195 | 195 | 205 | 595 | |
The following is a list of nations that participated in the 1979 Mediterranean Games:
Mediteranpress, originally launched as a monthly publication to provide updates on the preparation of the Games, became a weekly newspaper in early 1979.[1] It was produced by editorial teams from "Sport" (Belgrade), "Sportske novosti" (Zagreb), and "Slobodna Dalmacija" (Split), and the Yugoslav news agencyTanjug widely distributed its content.[1] During the Games, Mediteranpress evolved into a daily publication, serving as the official newspaper inSerbo-Croatian andFrench, with copies available inArabic.[1] Key articles were translated intoEnglish, French, and Arabic and distributed abroad.[1]
