Algeria’s military junta planned to use the Mediterranean games to polish the image of a country beset by authoritarianism, poverty and instability. Its hopes were dashed when the country received rebukes for its organisation fiasco.
Nine Moroccan journalists were denied access to the Algerian regime by a regime that has long politized culture and sports. They were kept at the airport for more than 30 hours without food.
Algeria accused Morocco’s well-known sports journalists of being spies. This insinuates that Algeria as a whole has become a military caserne. However, the regime that views Morocco as a threat was expecting this move.
Algeria was dealt a direct blow by the International Committee of Mediterranean Games earlier this month. It indirectly denounced the political use of the sporting event to promote a crumbling regime.
“Mediterranean games were not showcased, and some countries were erased from the map of the Mediterranean sea,” said the committee in a rebuke over the opening ceremony which was rather focused on Algeria only.
“Transportation was a total fiasco,” said the committee, noting that many guests were left waiting for hours.
These dysfunctions are “unacceptable and unprecedented,” the committee said, adding that these organizational shortfalls added to the lack of drinking water and medical support.
The statement’s language could have been harsher had it been issued after all the serious and intended errors by organizing Algeria.
Morocco’s anthem was cut as organizers omitted the last part of it referring to the Kingdom’s motto “God, the Homeland and the King.”
It is even called the Fassi anthem by organizers to avoid saying Morocco in a vile act of hostility.
An Albanian gold winner was forced by the Libyan anthem to be heard instead of the Albanian. A Spanish team also heard the Italian song!
Source: north africa post
