From 1947 until 1963, a precursor called
Indian Ocean Games Triangulaire was organized between
Madagascar,
Mauritius and
Réunion. In 1963, a football match in
Madagascar between
Mauritius and
Madagascar was abandoned at 1–1 after 54 minutes, and Madagascar declared themselves as winners of the tournament. After this match Mauritius refused to play and the tournament was not held again. In 1974, the Regional Olympic Committee of
Réunion decide to organise a multi-sport competition in the Indian Ocean. This was adopted by the
International Olympic Committee in 1976. The competition was initially called the 'Indian Ocean Games', but the name was changed to the 'Indian Ocean Island Games' before the first games, without the participation of
Sri Lanka, which was initially included. The objectives of the games are to contribute to regional cooperation through the development of sport in the region; build friendship and mutual understanding between the peoples of the islands of the Indian Ocean, in the spirit of
Olympism; allow athletes to have, every four years, a competition whose interest and level are commensurate with the real sport of the region; and create a regional event whose repercussions will ensure the development of infrastructure of countries in the area. In 2019 the games involve 7 islands, 14 disciplines and 2,000 athletes. ==IOIG Games==