Mediterranean games kick off

The 14th Mediterranean games were officially launched Sunday night with the participation of more than 3,600 athletes from 23 Arab and foreign countries.

The opening ceremony, which took place in the new football stadium in the sport city of Rades, was attended by the Tunisian president Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, the chairman of the international Olympic federation Jacques Raugh and chairman of the international Olympic Mediterranean committee Claude kolar.

The opening ceremony featured a show performed by 1,300 dancers.

The Arab countries participating in the 2001 games are besides the host country, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco and Syria.

99 Moroccan athletes are participating in the games, vying consecration in 16 disciplines out of the 23 programmed at the games, running from September 2 through 15.