Balkan Games

The Balkan Games ( Bulgarian and Macedonian Balkanski igri / Балкански игри; Greek Valkanikoí agones Stívou Βαλκανικοί Αγώνες Στίβου; romanian Jocurile Balcanice; Serbian Balkanske igre / Балканске игре; Albanian Lojërat Ballkanike; Turkish Balkan Oyunları ) are in athletics since 1930 regularly conducted international competitions in the Balkans disciplines.

The first, still unofficial Balkan Games in 1929 were carried out. From 1930 officially organized, they were held annually until 1940 and then reintroduced in 1953 ( with occasional interruptions). 1946 and 1947 were two unofficial Balkan Games were held (the Balkans and Central Europe games) that have not been approved by all participating States of the Balkan Games.

In recent years, the Balkan Games in the various disciplines are increasingly being carried out at different times and at different competition sites, so it is practically only a loose combination of Balkan Championships.

Participating nations

• Greece Greece
• Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia ( after 1989: Serbia Serbia, Montenegro Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia )
• Romania Romania
• Bulgaria
• Turkey Turkey
• Albania Albania

Venues

The Balkans since 1929 games were held in the following locations (with multiple venues for the main venue is specified):

The marathon competition took place in 1996 and 2000 in Belgrade, 1997 in Agrinio (Greece ), 1998 in Skopje, Sofia 1999, 2001 and 2002 in Istanbul.

The competitions in 2000 and 2002 found walking in Vlasotince (then Yugoslavia ), 2001 in Astros (Greece ), 2003 in Ruse (Bulgaria ), 2004 in Resita (Romania ) and 2005 in Preveza ( Greece) instead.