The 17th Mediterranean Games officially began with an opening ceremony here.
Speaking at the ceremony Thursday, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, "The Mediterranean sea does not separate us, rather it unites us and brings us closer."
Erdogan maintained that he saw Mersin Mediterranean Games as "preparation for the 2020 Olympics" which Turkey is bidding to host, reports Xinhua.
"Mersin will host the Games in the most beautiful way, and will convey sports' universal message of peace, solidarity and friendship," he said.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge and International Mediterranean Games Committee president Amar Addabi attended the ceremony. A total of 2,994 athletes from 24 countries and regions are competing.
Turkey is represented by 430 sportspersons, followed by Italy with 421 and France with 258. Furthermore, Syria, which faces civil war, is attending the games with nine athletes, behind Monaco with 11 and Malta with 12.
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