Success of the Heads of Mission Seminar for Tarragona 2018

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NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

SUCCESS OF THE HEADS OF MISSION SEMINAR FOR TARRAGONA 2018

In the lead-up, technical seminars were held attended by technical delegates and competition managers for Tarragona 2018 of the Department of International Relations The Seminar for the Heads of Mission of and Protocol for Tarragona 2018, the aim of the the Mediterranean Games took place on 10 seminar’s two on-site sessions was to provide the and 11 October in Tarragona and according Heads of Mission of each Olympic Committee to the participants’ opinions the event with useful information on all the operational was a great success in terms of both the and organizational aspects of the Games so organization and information on the Games. they can make the appropriate preparations for their delegations to take part in 2018. Over the two full-day sessions, the Heads of Mission of the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) and members of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) were able to get first-hand knowledge of the organizational details of Tarragona 2018 and the different competition venues for the Games.

The role of opening the Heads of Mission Seminar fell to the president of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, Amar Addadi, and the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco. Run by Gaietà Cornet, Director NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

Visit to the Games’ venues Residents’ Service Centre. All this will form the In addition, the Tarragona 2018 organizers Mediterranean Village at Port Aventura. accompanied the international representatives to several of the sports facilities that will be Technical meetings competition venues during the Games. The On the afternoon of 9 October, a joint meeting first day of visits focused on venues within the was also held for the technical delegates of city of Tarragona: the Costa Daurada Golf Club, the International Federations and the Games Tarragona Tennis Club, the Mediterranean Ring, competition managers with the Technical the Tarraco Arena Plaza, the Nou Estadi stadium Committee of the ICMG and the Sports and the Camp de Mart Auditorium, as well as the Department of the Organizing Committee. site for beach volleyball at Arrabassada and the This meant they could all attend both the water-skiing venue at the Port Tarraco Marina. sessions and visits during the Seminar.

On the second day the delegation visited This was a pioneering meeting in the history venues close to Tarragona: the Olympic of the Games, a joint initiative of both the Pavilion and the Football Stadium in Reus, ICMG and Tarragona 2018, with the goal of and the Vila-seca and Cambrils sports centres. creating a preparatory phase that would They were also able to see the hotels where include everyone involved in putting on the the athletes will be accommodated and the Games: ICMG, Organizing Committee, National Convention Centre that will be used as a Olympic Committees and Sports Federations. NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF A HUNDRED TARRAGONA THE ICMG APPROVES THE 2018 VOLUNTEERS TAKE OLYMPIC COMMITTEE OF PART IN THE HEADS OF PORTUGAL AS A FULL MEMBER MISSION SEMINAR AND THE The international body also designated ICMG GENERAL ASSEMBLY the Greek city of Patras to host the Participants included 30 NOC Assistants 2019 Mediterranean Beach Games The Heads of Mission Seminar for Tarragona The International Committee of the Mediterranean 2018 and the ICMG General Assembly brought Games (ICMG) held its General Assembly on together numerous representatives in Tarragona 13 October in Tarragona. Various ICMG internal from the 26 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) matters were dealt with, including electing the that will be taking part in the Mediterranean members of the new Executive Committee for Games next year. The Tarragona 2018 volunteers the next four years. The Assembly re-elected accompanied these events every step of the Amar Addadi as president of the ICMG, and way. To put all this together, up to a hundred chose Víctor Sánchez, Executive Director of volunteers were mobilized during the days Tarragona 2018, as First Vice-President. leading up to the meeting and during the working sessions. Split over six areas of participation The General Assembly also welcomed the (transport, registration, accommodation, Olympic Committee of Portugal to the ICMG as a full member. This means that they will enjoy all the same conditions as the other Olympic Committees participating in the 2018 Mediterranean Games. It should be remembered that up until now Portugal’s participation has been based on being a guest Olympic Committee.

Lastly, the General Assembly designated the Greek city of Patras as the host of the 2019 Mediterranean Beach Games, taking over from Pescara 2015. NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

protocol, looking after the Mediterranean Family of them confirmed, and what they have and general support for the organization), learned can be fed back to their own NOCs. the Games volunteers were able to put their training into practice as well as gain experience with a view to the main sporting event. THE CITY COUNCIL AWARDS Prior to these working sessions, the Organizing THE CONTRACT FOR THE Committee assigned the first 30 NOC Assistants 50-METRE SWIMMING POOL to be directly involved with their respective delegations and serve as a link with the AND THE DISMANTLING organization. The Heads of Mission Seminar OF THE A-7 HIGHWAY was the first opportunity for the NOCs to make contact with some of their NOC Assistants. Transmaber and Acsa, Obras e Infraestructuras will undertake these two projects for the Tarragona TARRAGONA 2018 TAKES 2018 Mediterranean Games PART IN THE ICMG The Tarragona City Council has awarded COOPERATION PROGRAMME the contract for building the 50-metre swimming pool and the one for dismantling Welcoming two interns onto this the A-7 highway, two major projects for the programme, from Egypt and Lebanon Tarragona 2018 Mediterranean Games

On the occasion of the Tarragona 2018 Heads It should be remembered that the 50-metre pool, of Mission Seminar and the General Assembly located in the Mediterranean Ring, will be the of the ICMG held in Tarragona in mid-October, future hub of the Aquatic Centre that will host and with the aim of gaining in-depth knowledge the swimming and water polo competitions. about its preparations and learning about the complexity and different needs of an event of this Of the eight companies that submitted nature, two assistants designated by the Olympic a tender, the bid with the highest score Committees of Egypt and Lebanon were hosted was that of Acsa, Obras e Infraestructuras in Tarragona for two weeks by the Organizing SA for a price of €1,689,331 plus VAT. Committee, through grants awarded by the ICMG Committee for Cooperation and Development. Dismantling of the A-7 highway This programme turned out to be very positive The contract was also granted for the town for the training of the two assistants, as both planning project aimed at improving pedestrian NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

mobility on the old section of SPORT AND SOLIDARITY THE SANTA TERESA FAIR IN the A-7 highway. This work, AT THE WOMEN RACE EL VENDRELL PROMOTES therefore, will facilitate mobility EL CORTE INGLÉS THE TARRAGONA 2018 in the area around the Nou Estadi The fourth edition of the Women MEDITERRANEAN GAMES stadium, the setting for the Race El Corte Inglés was once Once again, the Santa Teresa opening and closing ceremonies again a great success, with over Fair in the host municipality of El of the Mediterranean Games. 1,000 participants. The 5-kilometre Vendrell promoted the Tarragona course wound through the streets 2018 Games. This major regional Of the 11 companies that of Tarragona to raise funds for the event attracted 40,000 visitors submitted a tender, the fight against cancer. Tarragona during its three day duration. contract was awarded to 2018 and its volunteers collabora- Transmaber SL, with a price ted in this charity event. of €270,384.53 plus VAT. NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

THE REGION’S CHILDREN GET TO MEET TARRACVS

The mascot of the 18th Mediterranean Bicycle in Vila-seca and the Calafell Race. Games participated in various activities At these events, Tarracvs got involved with and sports competitions held throughout the participants and the activities and the region. One highlight was the annual spent lots of time with the little ones. El Vendrell Half Marathon, held this year for the thirty-first time, proving Finally, the Campclar Children’s Party attracted once again to be one of the province’s numerous children who enjoyed the company most hotly-anticipated races. of the Games’ mascot. Taking place close to the Mediterranean Ring, the epicentre of Many people also took part in the Santa Tarragona 2018, this event was a huge fiesta Úrsula Race in Valls, the Day of the dedicated to sport, solidarity and fun. NUMBER 11 – NOVEMBER 2017

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