{{Short description|3rd edition of the Mediterranean Games}} {{Infobox games | name = III Mediterranean Games<br/>Beirut 1959 | logo = 1959 MG (logo).png | size = 200 | caption = | host_city = [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]] | nations = 11 | athletes = 792 | events = 106 in 16 [[sport]]s | opening = 11 October 1959 | closing = 23 October 1959 | opened_by = [[Fuad Chehab]] | athlete_oath = | judge_oath = | stadium = [[Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium|Camille Chamoun Stadium]] | website = | previous = [[1955 Mediterranean Games|Barcelona 1955]] | next = [[1963 Mediterranean Games|Naples 1963]] }}
The '''1959 Mediterranean Games''', officially known as the '''III Mediterranean Games''', and commonly known as '''Beirut 1959''', were the 3rd [[Mediterranean Games]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Beirut 1959 |url=https://www.70yearsmg.com/games/beirut-1959/ |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=70 Years Mediterranean Games |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mediterranean Games 1959 (Beirut, Lebanon) |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesm/medgames59.html |access-date=2024-06-12 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> After visiting [[Africa]] and [[Europe]], the Mediterranean Games were for the first time held in [[Asia]] in [[Beirut]], [[Lebanon]], thus completing the trio of continents belonging to the [[Mediterranean Sea]].
The Games took place over 12 days, from 11 to 23 October 1959. There were 792 athletes (all men) from 11 countries participating.<ref name=":0" /> There were a total of 106 medal events from 17 different sports. At the end of the competition, France was on top again. The United Arab Republic (UAR), participating for the first time, came in second, and Turkey came third.
==Participating nations== The following is a list of nations that participated in the 1959 Mediterranean Games: {{colbegin|colwidth=18em}} *{{flaglink|FRA|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (66) *{{flaglink|GRE|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|old}} (69) *{{flaglink|ITA|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (55) *{{flaglink|LIB|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (180) *{{flaglink|MLT|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|1943}} (2) *{{flaglink|MAR|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (14) *{{flaglink|ESP|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|1945}} (83) *{{flaglink|TUN|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|1959}} (28) *{{flaglink|TUR|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (91) *{{flaglink|UAR|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (162) *{{flaglink|YUG|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games}} (42) {{colend}}
==Sports== The 1959 Mediterranean Games sports program featured 106 men-only events in 16 sports. The number in parentheses next to the sport is the number of medal events per sport.
Three sports from the 1955 games – field hockey, roller hockey and rugby – were all dropped from the program. Rowing competition also was not held. In wrestling, 8 Freestyle events returned having skipped 1955, and in sailing only one event was held (down from three in 1955).
{{colbegin|colwidth=18em}} *{{GamesSport|Athletics}} {{small|(23)}} *{{GamesSport|Basketball}} {{small|(1)}} *{{GamesSport|Boxing}} {{small|(10)}} *{{GamesSport|Cycling}} {{small|(6)}} *{{GamesSport|Diving}} {{small|(2)}} *{{GamesSport|Equestrian}} {{small|(6)}} *{{GamesSport|Fencing}} {{small|(6)}} *{{GamesSport|Football}} {{small|(1)}} *{{GamesSport|Gymnastics}} {{small|(8)}} *{{GamesSport|Sailing}} {{small|(1)}} *{{GamesSport|Shooting}} {{small|(9)}} *{{GamesSport|Swimming}} {{small|(8)}} *{{GamesSport|Volleyball}} {{small|(1)}} *{{GamesSport|Water polo}} {{small|(1)}} *{{GamesSport|Weightlifting}} {{small|(7)}} *{{GamesSport|Wrestling}} {{small|(16)}} {{colend}}
==Medal table== {{Medals table | caption = | host = LIB | flag_template = flaglink | event = at the 1959 Mediterranean Games | team = | gold_FRA = 26 | silver_FRA = 27 | bronze_FRA = 16 | gold_UAR = 23 | silver_UAR = 21 | bronze_UAR = 30 | gold_TUR = 13 | silver_TUR = 8 | bronze_TUR = 1 | gold_ITA = 12 | silver_ITA = 5 | bronze_ITA = 4 | gold_YUG = 11 | silver_YUG = 9 | bronze_YUG = 8 | gold_GRE = 8 | silver_GRE = 9 | bronze_GRE = 13 | name_GRE = {{flaglink|GRE|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|old}} | gold_ESP = 5 | silver_ESP = 12 | bronze_ESP = 12 | name_ESP = {{flaglink|ESP|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|1945}} | gold_LIB = 3 | silver_LIB = 10 | bronze_LIB = 17 | host_LIB = yes | gold_TUN = 3 | silver_TUN = 2 | bronze_TUN = 1 | name_TUN = {{flaglink|TUN|at the 1959 Mediterranean Games|1959}} | gold_MAR = 2 | silver_MAR = 3 | bronze_MAR = 2 }}
== References == <references />
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20130728091203/http://www.cijm.org.gr/images/stories/pdf/JM1959.pdf 1959 – BEYROUTH (LIB)] at [[Comité international des Jeux méditerranéens|International Committee of Mediterranean Games]] official web site *[https://web.archive.org/web/20090412042511/http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/mg.htm Mediterranean Games Athletic results at '''gbrathletics''' website]
{{Mediterranean Games}}
[[Category:1959 Mediterranean Games| ]] [[Category:1959 in multi-sport events|Mediterranean Games]] [[Category:1959 in Lebanese sport|Mediterranean Games]] [[Category:International sports competitions hosted by Lebanon|M]] [[Category:Multi-sport events in Lebanon]] [[Category:Sports competitions in Beirut|Mediterranean Games, 1959]] [[Category:Mediterranean Games by year]] [[Category:1950s in Beirut|Mediterranean Games, 1959]] [[Category:October 1959 sports events in Asia|Mediterranean Games]]