The 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games, hosted by Algeria for the second time after 1975, began on Saturday, June 25.
In the months leading up to its launch, there were several rumors and misleading news about the long-awaited event, which were thoroughly investigated by Misbar. This blog looks into the most prominent fake and misleading news regarding the 2022 Mediterranean Games.
Participation of Israel in the 2022 Mediterranean Games
Facebook and Twitter pages and accounts circulated a picture claiming to show the flag of Israel at the top of the list of the flags of the countries participating in the Oran 2022 Mediterranean Games. However, Misbar's investigations revealed that the image is fabricated. The original image shows the flag of Greece instead.
Within the same context, news websites and Facebook pages recently circulated an allegation claiming that Algeria invited Israel to participate in the Mediterranean Games that are being held in Oran 2022.
Photo Description: The claim circulating in Arabic.
Misbar investigated the claim and found it to be fake, as no reliable media source reported this. The organizing committee of the 2022 Mediterranean Games also denied the authenticity of the news, stressing that "Algeria will not accept Israel's participation."
False Statements Attributed to Salima Souakri Regarding the Olympic Village’s Unreadiness
A statement circulating on Facebook was attributed to the former Algerian judoka Salima Souakri. The circulating statement reads: "The Olympic village in Oran, which will accommodate delegations participating in the Mediterranean Games, has not yet been connected to sewage or water." The claim featured a logo of the Algerian "Al-Bilad" media outlet.
Misbar found the circulating claim to be fake. "Al-Bilad" website did not publish a similar statement by Salima Souakri, nor did they share this statement on their social media accounts
Additionally, Souakri denied making the statement via her Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Fake Statement About Sexual Harassment Attributed to the Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports
One of the most prominent fake reports that arose before the Games was a statement attributed to the Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Abdel-Razzaq Sebgag. The claim purports that the minister announced: "Five years in prison for anyone who harasses European women during the Mediterranean Games in Oran." The circulating claim featured the logo of the Algerian “Al-Hayat” channel.
Misbar investigated the claim and found that the Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports did not make this statement. Moreover, the Algerian "Al-Hayat" channel did not publish any similar statements on its social media platforms. Habet Hannachi, the channel's director, told Misbar that the circulating claim is untrue, and that the design bearing the logo of the Algerian "Al-Hayat" channel is fabricated.
Did the Teams of Italy, France and Spain Withdraw From the Mediterranean Games in Oran?
Some news websites reported that France, Italy, and Spain withdrew from the Mediterranean Games in Algeria due to poor organization and that the latter condemned these decisions.
Misbar reviewed the circulated claim and found that it is misleading and relies on causing commotion. There was no withdrawal from the Mediterranean Games in Oran by the European countries mentioned above. While their equestrian teams withdrew from the tournament, the rest will participate.
Photo Description: The countries participating in the Mediterranean Games 2022.
Misbar's investigation revealed that the French Equestrian Federation (FFE) decided not to participate in the Mediterranean Games in Oran scheduled for June 30 to July 3.
FFE attributed this to "the lack of a specific sports program by the organizing committee for the Mediterranean Games in Oran, as well as a logistical and health system that ensures the welfare of the horses." The situation is similar for the Spanish and Italian national teams.
As Misbar discovered through research, the Royal Equestrian Federation of Spain also published the news of its non-participation for the same reasons.
Organizers of the Mediterranean Games in Oran called the justifications of the Spanish and French teams "false and malicious."
Video Clipped From a 2020 Interview With Frane ŽAnić
Recently, “Medi1TV” channel published a video clip purporting that it shows the Secretary of the Croatian Volleyball Federation, criticizing the living conditions of the participants in the ongoing Games in Oran. However, Misbar's investigation revealed that the video clip dates back to August 2020 and has nothing to do with the current Mediterranean Games.
Photo Description: “Medi1TV” sharing an old video via their Facebook page.
No Italian Coaches Were Beaten in Oran
Recently, a photo has spread claiming to show an Italian swimming coach named Raffaello De Rossi, who was assaulted by a worker the day before the Mediterranean Games in Oran.
Misbar investigated the image and found the claim to be misleading. The image is old and belongs to a tourist who was assaulted in November 2020 on the French island of Hua Hin. There is no connection between the image and the Mediterranean Games.
Photo Description: Image of the tourist attacked in Hua Hin.
Moreover, Misbar found no evidence that an Italian coach was recently beaten in Oran.
Translated by Ouissal Harize
Misbar’s Sources:
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