Arab Games
Abbreviation | AG |
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First event | 26 July – 10 August 1953, Alexandria, Egypt |
Last event | 5–15 July 2023, (Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba, Tipaza), Algeria |
Organization | Union of Arab National Olympic Committees |
Games |
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The Arab Games (Arabic: الألعاب العربية), formerly called the Pan-Arab Games, are a regional multi-sport event held between nations from the Arab world. They are organized by the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees. The first Games took place in 1953 in Alexandria, Egypt. Intended to be held every four years since, political turmoil as well as financial difficulties have made the event an unstable one. Women first competed in 1985.
Complications
Typically the games are to take place every four years. Initially Lebanon was set to host the 2015 XIII Arab Games, but "withdrew because of the crisis in the Middle East". Following Beirut's withdrawal Morocco was then chosen to host the games, but faced financial complications and also withdrew. "Mohamed Ouzzine, Morocco's Minister of Youth and Sports [at the time, wrote to] the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees (UANOC) telling them that they would be withdrawing."
The same year, Egypt volunteered to host the event. "Sheikh Khalid Al Zubair, chairman of the Oman Olympic Committee (OOC)" said, "We will be offering our full support to Egypt and we have also taken a decision to suspend the financial regulations and other requirements due to lack of time." Had the UANOC accepted Egypt's proposition the games would have taken place in December 2015; however, no such event was held.
Editions
Year | Games | Host | Dates | Nations | Competitors | Sports | Events | Top nation | ||
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Men | Women | Total | ||||||||
1953 | 1 | Alexandria | 26 July – 10 August | 9 | 650 | — | 650 | 10 | 70 | Egypt |
1957 | 2 | Beirut | 13 – 27 October | 10 | 914 | — | 914 | 12 | 90 | Lebanon |
1961 | 3 | Casablanca | 24 August – 8 September | 9 | 1127 | — | 1127 | 11 | 90 | United Arab Republic* |
1965 | 4 | Cairo** | 2 – 14 September | 14 | 1500 | — | 1500 | 13 | 90 | United Arab Republic** |
1976 | 5 | Damascus | 6 – 21 October | 11 | 2174 | — | 2174 | 18 | 120 | Syria |
1985 | 6 | Rabat | 24 August – 8 September | 17 | 3442 | 18 | 160 | Morocco | ||
1992 | 7 | Damascus | 4 – 18 September | 18 | 2611 | 14 | 150 | Syria | ||
1997 | 8 | Beirut | 13 – 27 July | 18 | 3253 | 22 | 217 | Egypt | ||
1999 | 9 | Amman | 15 – 31 August | 21 | 5504 | 26 | 323 | Egypt | ||
2004 | 10 | Algiers | 24 September – 10 October | 22 | 5525 | 32 | 330 | Algeria | ||
2007 | 11 | Cairo | 11 – 26 November | 22 | 6000 | 32 | 355 | Egypt | ||
2011 | 12 | Doha | 9 – 23 December | 21 | 6000 | 33 | 316 | Egypt | ||
2023 | 13 | Algeria (5 cities) | 5 – 15 July | 22 | 3800 | 22 | 253 | Algeria | ||
2027 | 14 | Riyadh |
- * United Arab Republic with Egypt and Syria.
- ** United Arab Republic with Egypt only.
- Not held in 2015 and 2019.
- 2015 Cancelled.
Related Games
Arab University Games
Editions:
- 2004 in Jordan
- 2010 in Egypt AUSF Report Page 9. Also arab university futsal, beach volleyball, basketball and futsal championship. 1338 athelets from 17 nations.
- 2018 in Morocco
Arab University Beach Games
Editions:
- 2016 in Morocco
Arab Games for the Handicapped
Editions:
Arab School Games
Editions:
Organized by the Arab Union for Physical Education and School Sports (AUPESS).
Unofficial:
Official:
- 1963 Kuwait
- 1964 [not held]
- 1966 Syria
- 1971 Iraq
- 1973 Lebanon - Female were first allowed to participate.
- 1975 Egypt
- 1977 Libya
- 1979 Somalia
- 1986 Tunisia
- [not held]
- [not held]
- 1998 Morocco
- 2000 [not held]
- 2002 Lebanon
- 2004 Saudi Arabia
- 2006 Algeria
- 2008 Jordan
- 2010 Lebanon
- 2012 Kuwait
Sports
37 sports were presented in the Arab Games history. Para Sports since 1999. Women since 1985.
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All-time medal table
Below is the medal table of the Arab Games tournaments, up until the 13th tournament 2023.
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
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1 | Egypt (EGY) | 633 | 429 | 375 | 1437 |
2 | Algeria (ALG) | 360 | 381 | 393 | 1134 |
3 | Tunisia (TUN) | 303 | 273 | 346 | 922 |
4 | Morocco (MAR) | 299 | 275 | 301 | 875 |
5 | Syria (SYR) | 243 | 254 | 339 | 836 |
6 | United Arab Republic (UAR) | 122 | 74 | 49 | 245 |
7 | Jordan (JOR) | 88 | 140 | 207 | 435 |
8 | Iraq (IRQ) | 87 | 141 | 204 | 432 |
9 | Qatar (QAT) | 86 | 80 | 112 | 278 |
10 | Lebanon (LIB) | 82 | 122 | 189 | 393 |
11 | Saudi Arabia (KSA) | 76 | 106 | 154 | 336 |
12 | Bahrain (BHR) | 45 | 31 | 58 | 134 |
13 | Kuwait (KUW) | 40 | 65 | 123 | 228 |
14 | United Arab Emirates (UAE) | 34 | 41 | 65 | 140 |
15 | Sudan (SUD) | 24 | 42 | 37 | 103 |
16 | Libya (LBA) | 23 | 42 | 57 | 122 |
17 | Oman (OMN) | 19 | 18 | 27 | 64 |
18 | Palestine (PLE) | 8 | 23 | 70 | 101 |
19 | Yemen (YEM) | 7 | 10 | 21 | 38 |
20 | Djibouti (DJI) | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
21 | North Yemen (YAR) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
22 | Somalia (SOM) | 0 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
23 | Mauritania (MTN) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
24 | South Yemen (YMD) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Totals (24 entries) | 2581 | 2554 | 3131 | 8266 |
- * The United Arab Republic (1958–1971) contains 2 countries Egypt & Syria.