"Balkan Closed Athletics Games"

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The Balkan Games of Closed Athletics or Balkan Championships of Closed Athletics, is an international sporting event of the Balkan peninsula states, which began testing in 1991 and officially in 1994 and is held to this day with the participation of an athlete or athlete per event from each country. Since 2012 it has been held in Istanbul but all previous events have taken place in Greece. The Balkan Association of Athletics (Association of Balkan Athletic Federations or ABAF) is responsible for the event, which also organises the Balkan open track championships of men-women, teenagers-young people, children-corrases, marathons, walks and rough roads. In addition to the medals and prizes awarded three first winners of each match, there is also a separate ranking with men and women rating for the participating countries.

History

The event began in 1991 at the initiative of the SEGAS that undertook to host her permanently at the Peace and Friendship Stadium, New Faliro, Piraeus, since it was then the only stage for a closed track in the Balkans. The first official event took place in 1994 and has since been held every year. By 2002 the games were held at the SEF. From 2003 onwards some events were held at the closed gym in Paiania. In 2012 they were first made outside Greece, in Constantinople. By 2001 there was no score and the country ranking was based on medals. A separate rating of men and women was then established.

All six Balkan countries participated in the first test event in 1991. Gradually the number of countries increased by participation in the struggles and states resulting from the dissolution of Yugoslavia and Moldova. Thus participations in the games reached 11 countries. Until 2012 Slovenia and Croatia did not participate, since both countries generally "snombranded" the Balkan championships. Since 2012 a gradual expansion of ABAF began as they joined successively: Croatia, Slovenia, Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia and Israel when its members reached 16.

Organizations

*The 1991 games were trial and considered unofficial.
**The country ranking until 2001 was made based on medals, since 2002 with a score and since 2017 again based on medals.
*** They were scheduled for February 20th in Athens but were cancelled.

Closed stages

Countries involved

*The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2003 was renamed Serbia and Montenegro and in 2007 it was divided into two states.

Table of medals (1991–2016)

Whole: 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996–2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006–2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Gold: 1991–2016
Silver: 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996–2001, 2002, 2004, 2006–2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Bronze: 1991, 1994, 1995, 1996–2001, 2002, 2004, 2006–2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016