Rijeka mayor Vojko Obersnel pointed out that the City of Rijeka after its candidature presented four years earlier had completed, to a great extent, all what at that time had been planned in terms of the construction of sports facilities and other infrastructure.
"Very probably, regardless of the problems with the budget emerged just about a year or a year and a half ago, Rijeka would be absolutely ready for organising the Mediterranean Games in 2013, moreover because if we had won the 2013 games, we would have intensified some other activities as well, especially on the construction of the Mediterranean Village," said Obersnel.

"We considered it our obligation to present the candidature for the Games once more to prove that behind the candidature were not just empty promises, but actual projects and facilities built, first of all, for the benefit of the citizens of Rijeka and its neighbouring areas, and not because of international competitions" pointed out the mayor Obersnel, who concluded by saying that becoming the host city of the Games would mean very much for the City of Rijeka and the neighbouring areas, because we would get an exceptional experience in organisation, while young athletes from Rijeka would get an opportunity to socialise with thousands of athletes from the Mediterranean countries.

Expressing his thanks for the warm welcome, the president of the ICMG Evaluation Commission, Souhail Khoury mentioned that the intention of the visit paid by the Commission was not to express criticism, but to provide assistance to the City of Rijeka and partnership towns to prepare the best possible candidature file owing to which the city would get advantage over other cities-candidates.
"I am impressed with the changes that took place in Rijeka over the last four years, first of all as regards the sports facilities equipped at the level corresponding to international standards, as well as with the changes relating to the improvement of road infrastructure and all other improvements that have happened in Rijeka" said Khoury, mentioning that for this candidature close cooperation between the City of Rijeka and the Croatian Olympic Committee was very important.

Responding to a question put by a journalist, asking what Rijeka could improve in its candidature, Khoury said that there were no weak points in the candidature, it should only further work on sensibilising those who would vote on the host city of the Games, and he also found important media support for the candidature.

The president of the Croatian Olympic Committee Zlatko Mateša pointed out that the Commission president Khoury was the right person to judge the progress made by Rijeka over the last four years. He also congratulated Rijeka on having in place sports infrastructure, having constructed sports facilities that are among the best in this part of Europe by their functionality and beauty.
"I believe that those who will decide on the host city of the Games will be reasonable and that they will not repeat the mistakes from the past. I am confident that the opinion of the Commission, headed by Mr. Khoury will be an argument strong enough to place Rijeka as an unavoidable and respectable candidate for hosing the Games," said Mateša, adding that the candidature of Rijeka presented on several occasions was not at all unusual, mentioning examples of a series of world cities that had presented their candidatures on several occasions to host Summer or Winter Olympic Games.

ICMG Evaluation Commission was composed by: Souhail Khoury, Nour el Houda Karfoul, M. Tullio Paratore, Dominique Petit, Sophie Metais. During its sojourn in Rijeka and in the neighbouring area the ICMG Evaluation Commission visited the following facilities: Zamet Centre, Kastav Hall, Tennis Centre Marčeljeva Draga, Kantrida Stadium, Kantrida Athletic Hall, Kantrida Swimming-Pool Complex, Youth Hall, Boules Centre Podvežica, Kostrena Hall, Kostrena Stadium, Crikvenica Hall and Mavrinci Hall.

Also, the ICMG Evaluation Commission visited the following hotels in Opatija: "Ambasador", "Milenium" and " Adriatic" and the Hotel Therapia at Crikvenica, they also visited the University Campus at Trsat which, in the event that the Mediterranean Games are to be held in Rijeka, will be transformed into the Mediterranean Village intended to accommodate participants.

(S.R.)