The Arab Games, formerly called the Pan-Arab Games, are a regional multi-sport event held between nations from the Arab world. They are organized by the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees. The first Games took place in 1953 in Alexandria, Egypt. Intended to be held every four years since, political turmoil as well as financial difficulties have made the event an unstable one. Women first competed in 1985.
At the 2011 Pan Arab Games, the athletics events are currently being held at Khalifa Stadium in Doha, Qatar from 15 to 20 December. A total of 45 events are to be contested, comprising 23 men's events and 22 for female athletes. The track and field events took place within the stadium while the half marathon was contested on a specially-designed course around the Aspire Zone. The shorter track events have a two-round format with qualifying heats and a final race, while the long-distance races and throwing events are contested in a straight final format with no qualifying rounds. In addition to the elite level programme, a total of 30 para-athletics events were contested between athletes with a disability on 21 and 22 December, comprising 25 men's events and five women's events.
At the 1993 Mediterranean Games, the athletics events were held in Narbonne, Languedoc-Roussillon, France from 17–24 June 1993. A total of 36 events were contested, of which 20 by male and 16 by female athletes.
The 2001 Arab Athletics Championships was the twelfth edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries which took place in Damascus, Syria from 2–5 October. A total of 44 events were contested. The women's heptathlon and half marathon events were not held, although one new women's event was held for the first time: the pole vault. The electronic timing system at the event failed during the competition and as a result some of the races were hand-timed. Results for all such hand timed events were recorded to the tenth of a second, rather than the hundredth of a second typically used in electronic times. The distance for the men's half marathon race was also mis-measured, falling short of the 21.1 km (13.1-mile) requirement.
The 1999 Arab Athletics Championships was the eleventh edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Beirut, Lebanon from 21–24 October. A total of 41 events were contested, 22 for men and 19 for women. The men's and women's racewalk events were not held due to lack or participation, as was the women's heptathlon. Only Egypt, Lebanon and Syria participated in the women's events.
The 1995 Arab Athletics Championships was the ninth edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Cairo, Egypt from 26 to 28 August. A total of 45 athletics events were contested, 25 for men and 20 for women.
The 1993 Arab Athletics Championships was the eighth edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Latakia, Syria from 24 to 27 September. A total of 40 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 17 for women.
The 1991 Arab Athletics Championships was the seventh edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Latakia, Syria from 1–4 October. A total of 39 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 16 for women.
The 1989 Arab Athletics Championships was the sixth edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Cairo, Egypt from 2–5 October. A total of 43 athletics events were contested, 24 for men and 19 for women. It was the first time that the Egyptian capital had hosted the event, bringing the championship to the largest Arab nation.
The 1981 Arab Athletics Championships was the third edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Tunis, Tunisia from 21–24 August. It was the first occasion that the tournament was hosted in Africa. A total of 39 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 16 for women. The men's 20 kilometres walk was held for the first time – being the first Arab walking championship race since the 1965 Pan Arab Games. The women's programme, following its debut in 1979 with ten events, was greatly expanded. Relays, hurdles, heptathlon and distance events were all opened up to women athletes.
The 1977 Arab Athletics Championships was the inaugural edition of the international athletics competition between Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria, coming one year after the city had hosted the 1976 Pan Arab Games. The absence of Egypt, Algeria and Morocco—the three foremost Arab nations in the sport—meant the level of competition was lower than that seen at the games. Iraq was the dominant nation, winning half the gold medals, and Tunisia was a clear second place with five golds. The hosts, Syria, placed third with a medal haul of twelve. Eight of the twelve participating nations reached the medal table.
The 1988 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the third edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria – the first time the event was staged in West Asia. A total of 41 athletics events were contested, 23 for men and 18 for women. Morocco, a regional power in the sport, did not send a team. Syria entered for the first time.
The 1996 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the seventh edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Latakia, Syria. A total of 41 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 19 for women. Morocco, a regional power in the sport, did not send a team to the meeting.
The 1998 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the eighth edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria – the second time the city hosted the tournament, and a fifth hosting for Syria. Damascus also hosted the senior Arab women's championships that year. A total of 41 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 19 for women. Morocco, a regional power in the sport, did not send a team to the meeting.
The 2000 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the ninth edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria – the second consecutive time the city hosted the tournament, and a sixth hosting for Syria. A total of 42 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 20 for women. Neither Morocco, Algeria nor Qatar—all regional powers in the sport—sent a team to the meeting, which impacted the overall quality of performances.
The 2002 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the tenth edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Cairo, Egypt – the city hosted the tournament once before in 1986. A total of 43 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 21 for women. After an absence in 2000, regional powers Morocco, Algeria and Qatar all returned to the tournament.
The 2004 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the eleventh edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place in Damascus, Syria – the fourth time that the city hosted the tournament. A total of 43 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 21 for women. The 2002 medal table leader, Morocco, was absent from the tournament.
At the 1997 Pan Arab Games, the athletics events were held at the Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium in Beirut, Lebanon from 14 to 17 July. The events were poorly attended, with the vast majority of seat in the stadium remaining empty even on the final day. However, the calibre of performances remained high in spite of this.
The 2009 Arab Youth Athletics Championships was the third edition of the international athletics competition for under-18 athletes from Arab countries. Organised by the Arab Athletic Federation, it took place in the Syrian city of Aleppo from 22 to 24 July. A total of thirty-eight events were contested, of which 20 by male and 18 by female athletes. The difference was accounted for by the lack of steeplechase and pole vault events for girls.
The 2008 Arab Junior Athletics Championships was the thirteenth edition of the international athletics competition for under-20 athletes from Arab countries. It took place between 20–23 June in Radès, Tunisia – the second time that the country hosted the tournament. A total of 44 athletics events were contested, 22 for men and 22 for women.
Sultan Mohamed Al-Sheib (QAT)
Mohamed Hiba Saif (KSA)
Mohamed Al-Houti (OMN)
Malik Louahla (ALG)
Mohammed Yagoub (SUD)
Bader Abbas (KUW)
Ibrahim El Hefeny (EGY)
Abidi Saïd (DJI)
Fakhredin Fouad (JOR)
Firas Al Mahamid (SYR)
Awatef Hamrouni (TUN)
Natalia Farran (LIB)
Raouâa Tanta (PLE)
