EOC President Spyros Capralos, right, has called on the ICMG to end a longstanding issue regarding the omission of Israel and Palestine from its major multi-sport event ©EOC

European Olympic Committees (EOC) President Spyros Capralos has called on the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) to open discussion on admitting the National Olympic Committees (NOCs) of Israel and Palestine as members.

The Mediterranean Games and Mediterranean Beach Games currently do not allow athletes from Israel and Palestine to compete, however Capralos says he feels the time has come for the ICMG to change its position and bring itself into line with the Olympic Charter.

"Our world is changing and we need to adapt to the changing world, but always stick to our principles," Capralos said.

"That one that is guiding us is the Olympic Charter and we should follow the Olympic Charter.

"The letter the EOC sent to ICMG is nothing else but just to express the desire of our members in Europe to end a longstanding issue and bring to our next Mediterranean family two of our NOCs - the NOC of Israel and the NOC of Palestine.

"I think the time has come to open this discussion.

Capralos has called on the ICMG to bring itself into line with the Olympic Charter by admitting the National Olympic Committees of Israel and Palestine as members ©Getty Images
Capralos has called on the ICMG to bring itself into line with the Olympic Charter by admitting the National Olympic Committees of Israel and Palestine as members ©Getty Images

"We think that we should follow the Olympic Charter with no discrimination and to follow the desire of the International Olympic Committee and what has happened to all the major sports events in the world, where there is no such discrimination.

"We need to work together to prepare and always having in mind that we need to keep the unity and to try to find ways to resolve this delicate issue."

The ICMG has agreed to hold an Extraordinary General Assembly, with a date to be confirmed, to take a decision on the matter.

Capralos’ comments come on the sidelines of the 2023 Mediterranean Beach Games, which are currently being held in the city of Heraklion in Greece.

Thirteen sports are on the programme for the Games, scheduled to conclude on Saturday (September 16).

The ICMG claims it is dedicated to promoting peace, friendship and unity among countries situated on the Mediterranean Basin, with critics arguing Israel and Palestine’s exclusions are antisemitic and politically motivated.