Arab Games

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.[1]

Arab Games
AbbreviationAG
First event26 July – 10 August 1953, Alexandria, Egypt
Last event5–15 July 2023, (Algiers, Oran, Constantine, Annaba, Tipaza), Algeria
OrganizationUnion of Arab National Olympic Committees
Games

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".[2] 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."[2]

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."[3] Had the UANOC accepted Egypt's proposition the games would have taken place in December 2015; however, no such event was held.

Editions
Host cities of the Arab Games
Year Games Host Dates Nations Competitors Sports Events Top nation
Men Women Total
1953 1 Egypt Alexandria 26 July – 10 August 9 650 — 650 10 70  Egypt
1957 2 Lebanon Beirut 13 – 27 October 10 914 — 914 12 90  Lebanon
1961 3 Morocco Casablanca 24 August – 8 September 9 1127 — 1127 11 90  United Arab Republic*
1965 4 United Arab Republic Cairo** 2 – 14 September 14 1500 — 1500 13 90  United Arab Republic**
1976 5 Syria Damascus 6 – 21 October 11 2174 — 2174 18 120  Syria
1985 6 Morocco Rabat 24 August – 8 September 17 3442 18 160  Morocco
1992 7 Syria Damascus 4 – 18 September 18 2611 14 150  Syria
1997 8 Lebanon Beirut 13 – 27 July 18 3253 22 217  Egypt
1999 9 Jordan Amman 15 – 31 August 21 5504 26 323  Egypt
2004 10 Algeria Algiers 24 September – 10 October 22 5525 32 330  Algeria
2007 11 Egypt Cairo 11 – 26 November 22 6000 32 355  Egypt
2011 12 Qatar Doha 9 – 23 December[4] 21 6000 33 316  Egypt
2023 13 Algeria Algeria (5 cities) 5 – 15 July 22 3800 22 253  Algeria
2027 14 Saudi Arabia Riyadh[5]

Sports

37 sports were presented in the Arab Games history. Para Sports since 1999. Women since 1985.

Sport Years
Athletics () since 1953
Archery () since 1953
Badminton () since 1999
Basketball () since 1953
Bodybuilding () since 1999
Boxing () since 1953
Bowling () since 2007
Bridge () since 1999
Camel racing () since 2007
Cue Sports since 2011
Chess () since 1999
Cycling () since 1957
Diving () TBA
Sport Years
Equestrian () since 1957
Fencing () since 1953
Finswimming () since 1999
Football () since 1953
Golf () since 1985
Gymnastics () since 1953
Handball () since 1961
Judo () since 1976
Karate () since 1976
Kickboxing () since 1999
Modern pentathlon () since 2007
Rowing () since 1957
Sport Years
Sailing () since 1985
Shooting () since 1953
Squash () since 1999
Surfing () since 1999
Swimming () since 1953
Table tennis () since 1976
Taekwondo () since 1997
Tennis () since 1961
Volleyball () since 1957
Water polo () since 1961
Weightlifting () since 1953
Wrestling () since 1953

All-time medal table

Below is the medal table of the Arab Games tournaments, up until the 13th tournament 2023.

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1 Egypt (EGY)6334293751437
2 Algeria (ALG)3603813931134
3 Tunisia (TUN)303273346922
4 Morocco (MAR)300275301876
5 Syria (SYR)243254340837
6 United Arab Republic (UAR)1227449245
7 Jordan (JOR)88140228456
8 Iraq (IRQ)87141204432
9 Qatar (QAT)8680112278
10 Lebanon (LIB)82122189393
11 Saudi Arabia (KSA)76106154336
12 Bahrain (BHR)443156131
13 Kuwait (KUW)4065143248
14 United Arab Emirates (UAE)344165140
15 Sudan (SUD)244237103
16 Libya (LBA)234261126
17 Oman (OMN)19182764
18 Palestine (PLE)82370101
19 Yemen (YEM)7102138
20 Djibouti (DJI)1214
21 North Yemen (YAR)1012
22 Somalia (SOM)0415
23 Mauritania (MTN)0101
24 South Yemen (YMD)0011
Totals (24 entries)2581255431758310

Arab University Games

Editions[6][7]

Arab University Beach Games

Editions[10]

Arab Games for the Handicapped

Editions[11]

Arab School Games

Editions[12][13]

Organized by the Arab Union for Physical Education and School Sports (AUPESS).

Unofficial
Official

See also

Notes
  1. Initially held in Beirut, Lebanon it was cancelled due to security conditions, so the hosting moved to Agadir or Rabat, Morocco, which in turn apologized for hosting and was thus postponed to 2019, and then canceled.
  2. AUSF Report Page 9. Also arab university futsal, beach volleyball, basketball and futsal championship. 1338 athelets from 17 nations.

References
  1. "12th Pan Arab Games in Doha". Marhaba. 30 October 2011. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  2. Mackay, Duncan (17 October 2014). "Pan Arab Games 2015 in doubt after Morocco pull out over financial fears". Insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  3. Mackay, Duncan (2 March 2015). "Egypt set to host 2015 Arab Games after two countries withdraw". Insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  4. UANOC amends the time-schedule of Pan Arab Games 2011 Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine published by the Qatar Olympic Committee on 6 March 2011; retrieved 10 March 2011
  5. "اتحاد اللجان الأوليمبية العربية يسند للسعودية تنظيم دورة الألعاب العربية 2027". Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  6. "Arab University Games". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  7. "Egypt Olympian Hadia Hosny makes QNET proud". Mynewsdesk. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  8. "Camélia Chiraz SAHNOUNE | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  9. "2011 AUSF Magazine". ausf.org. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  10. "Arab University Beach Games". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  11. "Arab Games for the Handicapped". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  12. "Arab School Games". www.topendsports.com. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
  13. "Arab School Games and Arab School Football Championship". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 8 August 2023.

Sources
  • Bell, Daniel (2003). Encyclopedia of International Games. McFarland and Company, Inc. Publishers, Jefferson, North Carolina. ISBN 0-7864-1026-4.
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