However, they expect the International Committee for the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) to "look closely" at the scheduling of future Games at their next Congress in Lisbon.

"The fact of having the Games at the same time as the World Cup was something that had been discussed, but the people who are interested in these kind of Games are not the same as the spectators for the World Cup," Tarragona 2018 executive director Victor Sanchez told insidethegames.

"We shall look at all this when we have the ICMG Congress.

"The future of the Mediterranean Games, which way they should be going, but also the concurrency with other big events in world sport.

"These are the things that we have to analyse."

Local newspapers have been very critical of poor attendances and have published pictures of empty buses and empty stadia.

But Sanchez believes the Organising Committee's hands were tied after a deal was struck with the Ticketmaster agency.

"It is really difficult to try to promote them [tickets] more because we function as an administrative power and we have submitted to the regulations of the European Union," he said.

"Once we had launched the tender and it had been handed to a company in charge of selling tickets, they are in charge of selling the tickets."

As with most Games, a small proportion of the available tickets have been kept for contingencies by the Organising Committee.

"What we can do is, the part of the tickets that can still be owned by us, because there is a part at each competition, those tickets can be distributed to sports associations or the municipalities," said Sanchez.

There were large swathes of empty seats at the Nou Estadi for the Opening Ceremony last week, leading to particular criticism of the Organising Committee.

Tarragona 2018 commissioner Javier Villamayor revealed that some 5,000 Closing Ceremony tickets would be given away to groups such as firefighters, police, medics and other volunteer groups which have helped run the Games.

"We plan to recognise volunteers at the Closing Ceremony," he said.

He promised that the Closing Ceremony on Sunday (July 1) will be a "fiesta" to be enjoyed by the entire community. </s> Mediterranean Games organisers had promised a fiesta and they were as good as their word.

It was a mixture of traditional Catalan music, gospel choirs latino and even techno.

Tarragona 2018 President Josep Felix Ballesteros spoke entirely in Catalan and greeted "brothers and sisters of the Mediterranean".

He also made a clear reference to the refugee crisis in his speech.

International Mediterranean Games Committee (ICMG) President Amar Addadi told the crowd "These moments we have spent together in Tarragona have been fabulous.

"There is a gold medal for all the towns which have staged these Games.’"

It fell to him to formally declare the Games closed.

"I invite the sporting family of the Mediterranean to come together in Oran in 2021," he he said.

Just as at the Opening Ceremony, proceedings began with the entry of Tarracus, the Games mascot, or to be precise nine of them, all decorated with different designs in the brightest colours.

Throughout the preceding week , they had been on display at locations around Tarragona.

One even greeted visitors to the covered market in the city centre.

A single volunteer entered with the red and yellow city flag of Tarragona to Catalan music by So Nat Grallers de Tarragona- performers on the tradition Gralles - wind instruments - and Timbal - drum.

Mayor Ballesteros said groups of Castellers - the local tradition of building human towers - had been invited to take part "but they did not want to do so because they did not want to perform in a football stadium’".

Even so , there was more Catalan culture to come.

Two dancers Marina Rodriguez and Lautaro Reyes dressed all in white then took centre stage for Santanova, the music of Santi Arisa which fused traditional Catalan elements with contemporary styles.

Then came the formal part of the Ceremony.

The opening bars of the Olympic anthem by Spiros Samaras rang around the Stadium as the flag bearers, led according to tradition by Greece, took their places on the centre stage followed by the remainder of the athletes.

Their arrival was televised in the live broadcast.

The organisers here were not likely to make the same mistake as Commonwealth Games organisers in the Gold Coast who scheduled the arrival of the athletes before the live television programme began.

As they entered , the athletes danced to the music of DJs Albert Neve and Abel Ramos performing on the decks.

This was an idea first used at the 2004 Olympics in Athens when it was DJ Tiesto who mixed the music

The Portuguese seemed particulary taken with the thumping sounds and had to be moved on by a stage manager, but they started a trend, the Cypriots, then Monaco and the Italians all wanted their photo.

What the International Olympic Committee would have thought back in the days of President Avery Brundage is anyone’s guess.

Competitors then were forbidden to have cameras.

Here, one of the Algerians even had a tablet.

The Algerians paused to greet the party from 2021 host city Oran, all watching from the grandstand.

If there is one shortcoming to the Mediterranean Games ceremonial, it is that it lacks a symbol with quite the impact of the Olympic Flame.

It did have one in the early years when an Amphora of Sea water was relayed to the Games to set a fountain in motion for the duration.

Perhaps there is case for reviving the ritual? ’

"It would be the decision of the [Local] Organising Committee," said Addadi.

"We have customs related to the concept of water.

"The water from different countries pour into the Mediterranean and this is something we have used as a metaphor."

"This is the Age of Aquarius," sang the Barcelona Gospel messengers as the theme of the waters of the Med was continued.

The Games flag bearing three interlocked white rings on a pale blue background was slowly lowered to the strains of a march written by Antoni Torrent, Professor of Music at the Conservatori de Musica de la Diputacio in Tarragona.

It was trooped to the centre of the Stadium by of the Guardia Urbana de Gala wearing full ceremonial uniform.

There it was passed from Mayor Ballesteros to ICMG President Amar Addadi.

Finally it was presented to the Mayor of Oran, Noureddine Boukhatem, who told the crowd, "My friends of the Mediterranean I invite you to Oran Salaam alaikum."

Images of preparations in the Algerian city filled the giant screen with a message "Welcome to Oran".

Addadi insisted, "We are extremely happy with the metamorphosis that the city has undergone."

There was time for a performance by the Tribu Urbana, a school for Urban dance and then some mysterious figures appeared wearing hooded caps.

They soon threw these off to reveal themselves as Brodas Bros, a hip hop ensemble in costumes bedecked with LED lights which changed colours by turn.

Singer Alvaro Soler led the grand finale, the volunteers ran on to the field to lead the dancing.

Many in the crowd waved flashlights in time to the music and Tarracus the mascot even led a conga.

It was that sort of evening. </s> It will fall to King Felipe of Spain to officially open them on Friday (June 22), but his words will come against against a backdrop of political unrest in the wake of last October’s referendum on Catalan independence.

The growing crisis had a knock on effect which led to the postponement .

Feelings in the region continue to run high and many buildings are decorated with political symbols and yellow ribbons supporting leaders of the Catalan independence movement who have been imprisoned.

Organisers remain uncertain whether the leader of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Qim Torra I Pla, will carry out his threat to boycott the Opening Ceremony.

He vowed not to attend because the King and Spanish Government President Pedro Sanchez will both be there.

Torra called for the King to retract a speech in which he firmly backed the Madrid Government position.

The King was an Olympic sailor at Barcelona 1992 and was, for a long time, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee.

"Spain has always been a committed partner of the Olympic Movement and this will be proved once again in Catalonia, this time in Tarragona," he said.

"No effort has been spared."

A group of 26 nations are set to take part and a record 3.600 competitors have been arriving at the Athletes' Village in Port Aventura, 15km outside Tarragona.

Jesus Garcia Bragado is arguably the best qualified "Village Mayor" there has ever been.

A seven-time Olympic race walker, he won 50 kilometres gold at the 1993 International Association of Athletics Federations World Championships in Stuttgart and has taken part in more major events than anyone else.

"I’ve been to many [Athletes'] Villages during my career and this is one of the best organised I’ve ever seen," Bragado said.

"I am confident that it will work very well."

Many locals view this event as the biggest thing ever to come to Tarragona.

The headlines in the local newspaper Diari de Tarragona translates as "On your marks" and the old town, looking out over the gleaming Mediterranean, is already festooned with welcome banners, including the mascot Tarracus, a Roman centurion.

Tarracus is the result of a competition was held in schools throughout the region.

From some 10,000 entries, the winner was 13 year old Aleix Girona from the Abel Ferrater school in La Selva I Camp, 14km outside Tarragona .

His original drawing was adapted by French artist Jean Jullien to create the finished mascot.

Jullien had previously drawn the symbol for peace in the wake of the Paris terror attacks of 2015.

Tarracus wears a Roman helmet made of the water of the Mediterranean, with a plume in the colours of Tarragona.

He also wears a scarf of the type worn by Castellers, who celebrate festivals by climbing to form human towers or Castells.

Even the medals have been inspired by the look of Roman coins with irregular edges.

They are inscribed "Jocs Mediterranis" in Catalan, Spanish, Arabic, French and English.

They feature a charioteer and the legend Reditum al Arena - or return to the Arena - although competition here is not expected to be quite as fierce as the gladiatorial contests.

The ribbons hang from an arch which represents the "Aqueduct de les Ferrers", commonly known as the Pont del Diable, or Devil’s Bridge. </s> He reaffirmed his call for King Felipe to apologise to the people of Catalunya for a critical speech made last October.

He has indicated that he will meet new Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez next month.

Former Catalan leader Carlos Puigdemont sent a video message from Berlin.

It seems no big Opening Ceremony these days seems to be immune from a political set to.

Many will remember the row at the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast earlier this year when protocol did not allow Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to speak.

Here, the traditional welcome ceremonies for 26 competing teams are under way at the Athletes' Village.

These include the traditional raising of the flag and a greeting from Village Mayor Jesus Garcia Bragado.

They include Kosovo, who have no diplomatic relations with Spain.

After visa problems when officials tried to visit for preparation workshops, the necessary papers have now been granted for a team of 40 in 12 sports.

Rio 2016 judo champion Majlinda Kelmendi is one of the team coaches and received the Kosovan team flag from President Hashim Tacjin before they departed for Tarragona.

The host nation have confirmed that Olympic 200 metres butterfly champion Mireia Belmonte will carry the Spanish flag at the Opening Ceremony, even though she is set to compete less than 24 hours later.

She told Spanish media, "’I am very aware that having the home crowd is an added motivation.

Belmonte sees the Games as an important stepping stone towards the European Championships in Glasgow later this year.

The Spanish Olympic Committee have pulled out all the stops to make sure star names are included.

Their team features Rio 2016 gold winning kayaker Marcus Cooper, London 2012 windsurfing champion Marina Alabau and taekwondo player Eva Calvo, who only lost out to Britain's double Olympic champion Jade Jones at Rio 2016.

There are competions in some sports before the Opening Ceremony.

The archers will be the first to see competitive action in these Games with ranking rounds for both men and women on Friday morning.

In the men’s football, which is an under-18 tournament, Italy are due to begin their campaign against Morocco at Calafell at 10am.

The host nation Spain face Algeria at Reus and France meet Turkey at La Pobla de Mafument.

Both matches kick off at 1 pm .

There are also preliminary matches in volleyball. </s> Approximately 4,000 athletes from 26 different nations will compete across 33 sports throughout the 2018 Mediterranean Games, which kick-off tomorrow in Tarragona, Spain. Olympic champion Mireia Belmonte was recently announced as flag bearer for the host nation and will represent just one of several high-profile swimmers set to compete at the quadrennial event. Of note, this year’s Mediterranean Games were originally set to be held in 2017, however, the International Committee of the competition announced postponement due to funding problems amidst Spanish political and economic instability.

Belmonte took away 2 silver medals at the 2009 edition of the Mediterranean Games before sitting out the 2013 version. Back at it in 2018, the 200m fly Olympic gold medalist is ready to take on the field across the 400m free, 800m free, 200m fly, 200m IM and 400m IM events, setting the Spaniard up for a possible 5-gold result. Challenging her in the IM events will be Turkey’s Viktoria Gunes, the reigning world junior record holder in the 200m breast. 20-year-old Gunes will contest the 100m breast and 200m breast, as well as the 100m fly in Tarragona.

Egypt’s first-ever World Championships medalist, Farida Osman, is slated to race in the women’s 50m free, 100m free and 100m fly. In the sprint free races she’ll meet two French athletes in the form of Lena Bousquin and Marie Wattel. Italians Linda Caponi and Simona Quadarella will also be in the mix across several individual events.

While most of the women’s events have enough entires to provide at least 2 prelims heats, the 200m back and 400m IM events only show 8 women entered, ensuring all make it to the final.

The men’s array of talent includes Egypt’s Ali Khalafalla, Greece’s Kristian Gkolomeev, along with Italy’s Luca Dotto, setting up a potentially super quick men’s splash n’ dash final. Egypt’s Marwan El Kamash and Serbia’s Velimir Stjepanovic will duel in the men’s 200m free, while Fabio Scozzoli of Italy and PJ Stevens of Slovenia will battle in the men’s 100m breast sprint.

1500m freestyle Olympic gold medalist Gregorio Paltrinieri of Italy is entered in his specialty event in Tarragona, marking the first time he’ll have swum the 1500m in over 10 months. </s> It was the only sour note in an Opening Ceremony here that had simplicity, originality and style.

Catalan activists had invited people to greet the Spanish Royal party by banging saucepans.

A group of around 300 gathered on the approaches to the stadium.

A smaller gathering of Royal supporters waved the Spanish national flag and sang "Y Viva Espana" for the television cameras.

Inside, as the King took his seat, the strains of the "Marcha Real", Spain's national anthem, were heard and around the stadium hundreds of Spanish flags were waved.

Catalan President Qim Torra had taken his place alongside the King in the Royal Box but there were jeers from some of the crowd when his name was mentioned in the speeches of welcome by Organising Committee President Jose Felix Ballesteros and Mediterranean Games President Amar Addadi.

Torra handed the King a dossier on the events around the Catalan independence referendum when the pair met before the Ceremony.

As the King rose to make the short declaration of opening, there were some catcalls and for a moment he struggled to make himself heard but many throughout the crowd shouted "Viva el Rey".

It was an indication of the strength of feeling on both sides but it could not overshadow a magical Ceremony entitled "dreams of stone and water" which took its inspiration from the ancient world.

The show was directed by Hansel Serna who had worked with the renowned "Cirque de Soleil".

It began with the entry of nine lifesize representations of Tarracus, the mascot of these Games.

Each was decorated with distinctive colours to represent the spirit of the Mediterranean.

The mascot even had its own song, sung by Cuban born singer Lucrecia.

Then came a song specially composed for the Games, "Juguem per Viure", performed by a group of singers called Petacar and accompanied by a choir of schoolchildren.

Greece led the parade of nations, a tradition begun 90 years ago at the 1928 Amsterdam Olympic Games.

Their flag was carried by archer Evangelia Psarra.

They were followed by Albania, in national colours of red and black.

Some of the team chose to display a giant Albanian flag.

After Andorra came Algeria, ''Argelia'' in Spanish.

Their flag was carried by boxer Reda Benabaziz.

In 2021, the Algerian city of Oran will be the next host.

Many of the team from Bosnia and Herzegovina wore their national flag around their uniforms as an improvised cape.

Their presence was a reminder of the 1992 Olympics held in Barcelona at a time when Bosnia was embroiled in a bitter war in the Balkans.

They were allowed to compete under their own flag.

The entry of Kosovo was another reminder of that conflict.

The announcer introduced them as "Olympic Committee of Kosovo" - a special form of words which seemed to be deliberate.

The Spanish Government does not yet have diplomatic relations and it had taken fierce lobbying by Tarragona officials to make sure that the necessary visas were granted for their team of 40.

Many of the team waved their national flag as they entered behind flagbearer Herolind Nishevci from karate.

On what was still a very warm evening, most teams had opted for shorts and sports uniforms but some of the French wore red, white and blue to construct a giant human tricolour.

The Montenegrans chose to hold red and yellow scarves, which seemed to start a trend when followed by Portugal, parading in the Games for the first time.

They are not strictly a Mediterranean country but they will provide some great Iberian rivalry to their neighbours.

The arrival of the Spanish team produced the biggest roar of the night.

Their flagbearer was swimmer Mireia Belmonte, the Olympic 200 metres butterfly champion at Rio 2016 two years ago who is expected to add some stardust to these Games.

For King Felipe, it must have brought back memories of the 1992 Olympics when he carried the Spanish flag as they entered the Montjuich Stadium.

The ceremonial Mediterranean Games flag, three rings on white on a blue background, had arrived from the sky in spectacular fashion, brought in by parachutists of the "Patrulla Acrobatica".

The colour party included the Mayor of the Athletes' Village Jesus Angel Garcia Bragado, gymnast Bito Fuster, swimmers Santiago Esteva Alberto Duch and Silvia Fontana and handballer Carme Rams, a competitor at the 1979 Games in Split.

Before it was raised, the flag was passed over the heads of the athletes, which recalled the wonderful moment at the 1992 Games when a giant Olympic flag was lowered over the field where the competitors had drawn up.

The oath was taken by weightlifter Lidia Valentin, upgraded to Olympic champion for 2012 after doping violations, and official Jordi Ribeira.

A ceremony of water was an inspired moment which was a reminder of the 1955 Mediterranean Games.

Here, maidens poured water into the fountains around the centre stage as seven gymnasts formed the shape of a coral.

The stage was constructed around four columns.

These appeared to be in ruins but as the finale unfolded, the columns rose as the dancers returned in sequences which represented ''humanity'' and ''the natural world".

The performers returned to perform one last number and were joined by Tarracus as fireworks crackled overhead.

It was little wonder that Organising Committee boss Ballesteros, who also happens to be the mayor of Tarragona, seemed delighted as he left the stadium.

Yet the local paper Diari de Tarragona devoted no fewer than four pages to the political stand-off with the verdict "brilliant sports Opening Ceremony but politically tense''.

The big sporting paper Marca likened it to a bullfight and spoke of "whistles and applause for the King in a politicised ceremony''. </s> They beat hosts Spain to win in the heart of the city, 25-22, 25-17, 33-35, 25-23.

The Italians won the first two sets and then the crowd were treated to a monumental third in which Italy had the chance to close out the gold medal.

The two sides were locked together until Spain finally broke the deadlock to win it.

If the home crowd thought this was to be the start of a recovery, they were to be disappointed.

Italy closed out the final set and it could be the start of a great year, as they prepare to co-host the World Championships with Bulgaria.

A lively crowd in the Tarraco Arena Placa made for a wonderful atmosphere in a huge indoor stadium once used for bullfighting.

There were plenty of youngsters and cheerleaders in the stands, while volunteers tossed snacks in the intervals between the sets.

Officials and reporters at courtside often found themselves in danger as the balls flew around.

In men's handball at the Palau Désports at Campclar, it was another wonderful contest for gold.

Tunisia led at the interval but Croatia came back to win 24-23.

It was more straightforward in the bronze medal match as Spain beat Turkey 30-19.

Over at the pool, Serbia beat Greece 12-10 to win the men's water polo final.

Earlier, Montenegro had beaten Spain 6-4 to claim the bronze

The final day crowds will no doubt come as a relief to organisers who had faced criticism for the small attendances at some competitions earlier in the week.

"I don't think there was anyone in our territory that didn't know that the Games were taking place," said Tarragona Mayor and Organising Committee President Josep Felix Ballesteros.

"There has been growing interest in the final phases of competition.

"I have seen some stadiums that were empty and others that were fuller.

"It is unfair to compare the capacity of drawing the public in a city the size of Tarragona with other bigger cities." </s> Turkey came third in the 18th Mediterranean Games which finished Sunday in the Spanish city of Tarragona, with 31 gold, 25 silver and 39 bronze medals.

Turkey earned at least one gold medal in almost each category in which its athletes competed, with eight gold medals earned in wrestling and six golds in weightlifting, counting both male and female athletes.

Italy ranked first with 56 gold, 55 silver and 45 bronze medals. Host country Spain ranked second with 38 gold, 40 silver and 44 bronze medals. France and Egypt took fourth and fifth places, respectively. Twenty-six countries participated in this year's games.

Some of Turkey's standout athletes included world champion sprinter Ramil Guliyev, who broke the 35-year record with 20.15 seconds to win the gold in the men's 200 meters. The record was set by Italian sprinter Pietro Mennea at the 1983 Games in Casablanca.

For men's Greco-Roman style wrestling, Metehan Başar and Yunus Emre Başar both won gold. Ahmet Bilici and Selahattin Kılıçsallayan took home the gold in men's freestyle. For women's wrestling, Evin Demirhan, Bediha Gün, Elif Jale Yeşilırmak and Buse Tosun won gold in each of their categories.

Others who took home the gold included Kayra Sayit in judo, Ece Öztürk in bocce, paralympian Zübeyde Süpürgeci in women's 800m T54 race and Başak Eraydın-Ipek Öz in tennis doubles.

Inaugurated in Egypt in 1951, the Mediterranean Games are held every four years between countries around or close to the Mediterranean Sea.

Turkey hosted the event twice; in 1971 in western Izmir province and in 2013 in southern Mersin province. </s> Cyprus Cyclist Andri Christoforou won a Bronze medal in the Tarragona Mediterranean Games which conclude on Sunday.

This is the first time Cyprus secures a medal in cycling in Mediterranean Games. Christoforou’s result was 25:12.10.

In statements Andri expressed her happiness for the medal and said that now she will start training for the World Championship in September.

So far Cyprus has won 4 Gold medals, 2 Silver and 2 Bronze.
The closing ceremony of the 18th Mediterranean Games in Tarragona, Spain, takes place.