Tarragona has delayed its hosting of the 2017 Mediterranean Games ©Visit Spain

Tarragona has postponed its hosting of the Mediterranean Games from 2017 to 2018 due to funding problems caused by Spanish political instability.

The north-eastern region was originally due to host the event from June 30 to July 9 next year.

It has now been pushed back one week less than a year to be from June 22 until July 1. 

International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) President Amar Addadi revealed that this was due to "financial implications" arising from the delay in forming a new Spanish Government. 

Ten months of gridlock was finally resolved last month after Mariana Rajoy formed a minority Government.

But organisers are still waiting for €9 million (£7.1 million/$9.9 million) payment from the Spanish Government to cover the operating budget.

An additional €3 million (£2.7 million/$3.3 million) to finance the construction of an Aquatic Centre is also required.

Barely half of the €20 million (£17.7 million/$20.9 million) sponsorship target has been received.

King Felipe VI of Spain has backed the Mediterranean Games ©Getty Images
King Felipe VI of Spain has backed the Mediterranean Games ©Getty Images

Catalan Secretary General of Sports Gerard Figueras explained that the Government had done little "beyond good words".

"Clearly this is not the desired scenario for anyone," he added. 

"The positive consequence is that we gain one more year, but the sporting forecast was not this one."

Other members of the Tarragona City Council have called the delay "ridiculous", however, and blamed the Municipal Government for using it as an excuse. 

The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport event held every four years between European, African and Asian nations around or very close to the Mediterranean Sea.

Kosovo were added as the 19th European member last year alongside Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain and Turkey.

Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia in Africa and Lebanon and Syria in Asia are also members.

Tarragona was selected as host of the Games in 2011, fending off competition from Alexandria in Egypt.

The event will therefore be held in Spain for a third time, after Barcelona staged the event in 1955 before Almeria's hosting in 2005.

Mersin in Turkey last hosted the quadrennial event in 2013, with Oran in Algeria already selected as 2021 host.