Rijeka, Croatia’s third largest city, is hoping to secure the majority of the 87 votes of the Mediterranean Games Committee when the decision is made in Almeria, Spain in October 2003.
Rijeka is short-listed along with Patras in Greece and Pescara in Italy.
Commented Ecclestone: "We are delighted to support my wife’s home city in their bid for the Mediterranean Games in 2009. This is an enormous opportunity for the beautiful city of Rijeka as well as the whole of Croatia. There will be far-reaching benefits from tourism and inward investment. We really believe Rijeka deserves the Games."
The Games, in which 23 countries take part in 24 different sports, have never gone to Croatia before since the country’s inception in 1992.
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone and his Croatian-born wife, Slavica, today announced their support for the Croatian city of Rijeka’s bid to host the XVI Mediterranean Games in 2009.
