Slovenian athletes, whose attendance at the 17th Mediterranean Games was uncertain due to anti-establishment protests in Turkey, will compete in various sports, including track and field, judo, sailing, volleyball, swimming, handball, shooting and rowing.

Slovenia is sending world class athletes to the Mersin games, including two Olympic medal winners, shooter Rajmond Debevec and judoka Lucija Polavder.

At the last Mediterranean Games in Pescara in 2009, Slovenian athletes won a total of 26 medals, of which seven golds.

Čop, for whom this will be the first major competition as a non-athlete, said at the team's presentation last week that the Med Games in Mersin could be good practice for Turkey, which is also bidding to host the 2020 Olympic Games. He therefore expects the Mediterranean Games to be well organised.

A total of 23 countries will be competing in the Mediterranean Games, which take place every four years. Participants come from 16 European countries, five African and two Asian countries.

The only country with a Mediterranean coast that does not compete in the games is Israel. The games are however attended by Andorra, San Marino and Serbia, which do not have a coast.