1997 Pan Arab Games
Encyclopedia
The 8th Pan Arab Games
were held in Beirut
, Lebanon
between July 12 and July 27, 1997. 3253 athletes from 18 countries participated in events in 22 sports.
over 50,000 people gathered in the Sports City in Beirut for the opening ceremony of the eighth Pan-Arab games, the first such event to be hosted by Lebanon since forty years.
, House Speaker Nabih Berri
, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
, former Arab League secretary-general Ahmad Esmat Abd al Meguid, International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch
, and Saudi Prince Faysal Ben Fahed Ben Abdel Aziz were present for the opening. Some three thousand athletes representing nineteen Arab countries taking part in this event.
President Elias El-Hrawi spoke at the beginning of the ceremony. He said the decision of the Arab countries to hold the games in Lebanon affirmed their trust in the country's achievements, adding Lebanon would do its best to make the games a success. Hrawi also said: "From Lebanon we say to the world, the Lebanese have returned to their heritage and unity, they have returned to build a Lebanon for heroes, youth and peace. Prime Minister Rafik El-Hariri said opening ceremony marked the day when construction won over destruction and peace over war, adding Israel
turned the Sports City into a cemetery but it has become a place for unity, peace, and Arab
solidarity under President Elias Hrawi's mandate.
About 3,500 Lebanese students and more than a thousand Lebanese Army soldiers presented folklore shows and dances that represent the resurrection and unity of Lebanon from the civil war that ended in 1990.
Army soldiers, clad in white, carried a Lebanese map while others wearing blacks tried to tear away its southern part, a reference to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. There were a number of laser shows portraying images and scenes from Lebanon
, and from Israel's 1982 invasion which destroyed the Sports City.
Students also presented a variety of dances representing the nineteen participating countries.
At the end of the ceremony fire works
lit Beirut skies with fascinating displays of light and color. The games which began on July 11 include twenty-one sporting events.
The Sports City was one of twenty stadiums throughout Lebanon that were reconstructed and rehabilitated to host the Arab Games this year. After the ceremony the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Samaranch praised Lebanon for an excellent opening ceremony, adding Beirut, host to soccer's Asia Cup
in the year 2000, was a very strong bidder for the Francophone games in 2001, for which Ottawa
was also competing.
Pan Arab Games
The 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...
were held in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
between July 12 and July 27, 1997. 3253 athletes from 18 countries participated in events in 22 sports.
over 50,000 people gathered in the Sports City in Beirut for the opening ceremony of the eighth Pan-Arab games, the first such event to be hosted by Lebanon since forty years.
Opening Ceremony
President Elias HrawiElias Hrawi
Elias Hrawi was a President of Lebanon, whose term of office ran from 1989 to 1998.He was a native of the Beqaa valley. He was elected on 24 November 1989, two days after the assassination of René Moawad, who had held office for just seventeen days...
, House Speaker Nabih Berri
Nabih Berri
Nabih Berri is the Speaker of the Parliament of Lebanon. He heads the mostly Shi'a Amal Movement.-Biography:He was born in Bo, Sierra Leone to Lebanese parents. He went to school in Tebnine and Ain Ebel in southern Lebanon and later studied at the Makassed and the Ecole de la Sagesse in Beirut...
, Prime Minister Rafik Hariri
Rafik Hariri
Rafic Baha El Deen Al-Hariri , was a business tycoon and the Prime Minister of Lebanon from 1992 to 1998 and again from 2000 until his resignation, 20 October 2004.He headed five cabinets during his tenure...
, former Arab League secretary-general Ahmad Esmat Abd al Meguid, International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch
Juan Antonio Samaranch
Don Juan Antonio Samaranch y Torelló, 1st Marquis of Samaranch, Grandee of Spain , known in Catalan as Joan Antoni Samaranch i Torelló , was a Catalan Spanish sports administrator who served as the seventh President of the International Olympic Committee from 1980 to 2001...
, and Saudi Prince Faysal Ben Fahed Ben Abdel Aziz were present for the opening. Some three thousand athletes representing nineteen Arab countries taking part in this event.
President Elias El-Hrawi spoke at the beginning of the ceremony. He said the decision of the Arab countries to hold the games in Lebanon affirmed their trust in the country's achievements, adding Lebanon would do its best to make the games a success. Hrawi also said: "From Lebanon we say to the world, the Lebanese have returned to their heritage and unity, they have returned to build a Lebanon for heroes, youth and peace. Prime Minister Rafik El-Hariri said opening ceremony marked the day when construction won over destruction and peace over war, adding Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
turned the Sports City into a cemetery but it has become a place for unity, peace, and Arab
Arab
Arab people, also known as Arabs , are a panethnicity primarily living in the Arab world, which is located in Western Asia and North Africa. They are identified as such on one or more of genealogical, linguistic, or cultural grounds, with tribal affiliations, and intra-tribal relationships playing...
solidarity under President Elias Hrawi's mandate.
About 3,500 Lebanese students and more than a thousand Lebanese Army soldiers presented folklore shows and dances that represent the resurrection and unity of Lebanon from the civil war that ended in 1990.
Army soldiers, clad in white, carried a Lebanese map while others wearing blacks tried to tear away its southern part, a reference to the Israeli occupation of southern Lebanon. There were a number of laser shows portraying images and scenes from Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, and from Israel's 1982 invasion which destroyed the Sports City.
Students also presented a variety of dances representing the nineteen participating countries.
At the end of the ceremony fire works
Fire Works
Fire Works is the third album by the New Zealand post-rock band High Dependency Unit. It was released in New Zealand in March 2001. HDU had supported Steve Albini's band Shellac on a tour of New Zealand, and the album was recorded at Albini's studio in Chicago, but with Albini otherwise engaged...
lit Beirut skies with fascinating displays of light and color. The games which began on July 11 include twenty-one sporting events.
The Sports City was one of twenty stadiums throughout Lebanon that were reconstructed and rehabilitated to host the Arab Games this year. After the ceremony the President of the International Olympic Committee, Juan Samaranch praised Lebanon for an excellent opening ceremony, adding Beirut, host to soccer's Asia Cup
Asia Cup
The ACC Asia Cup is an international men's One Day International cricket tournament. It was established in 1983 when the Asian Cricket Council was founded as a measure to promote goodwill between Asian countries. It was originally scheduled to be held every two years...
in the year 2000, was a very strong bidder for the Francophone games in 2001, for which Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
was also competing.
Medals won by country
| 1 | 93 | 56 | 38 | 187 | |
| 2 | 43 | 46 | 43 | 132 | |
| 3 | 18 | 29 | 34 | 81 | |
| 4 | 18 | 15 | 16 | 49 | |
| 5 | 10 | 8 | 23 | 41 | |
| 6 | 9 | 15 | 52 | 76 | |
| 7 | 9 | 12 | 26 | 47 | |
| 8 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 17 | |
| 9 | 6 | 12 | 21 | 39 | |
| 10 | 1 | 13 | 23 | 37 | |
| 11 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | |
| 13 |  Libya |
0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 14 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 15 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 16 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | |
| 17 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |