Following the Winter Universiade in Turin in January 2025, the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milan-Cortina this winter, and while awaiting the Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2028, a new major multi-sport event has just opened in Italy: the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, which will run until September 3. More than 3.850 athletes, representing 26 National Olympic Committees, will once again electrify Italy with their performances for about ten days.
To make Puglia "an international hub for sport"
Thirty-two sports are on the program. Canoe-kayak had the honor of launching these Games on Friday. Attention will soon turn to padel, a new addition to this edition. Other sports are counting on these two weeks to score points with a view to future inclusion in the Olympic Games, such as karate and boules. The CIJM coordination committee had expressed some concerns in recent months, but all the venues have been delivered, despite some delays to the initial schedule.
The venues are almost all located within a 40-kilometer radius of Taranto. Only handball, volleyball, and football players will have to travel a few dozen kilometers further to play in Conversano, Fasano, Brindisi, or Lecce. In total, a dozen towns in the region host competitions. This is a project that requires coordination, vision, and a strong capacity for institutional collaboration.explained Carlo Molfetta, the general manager of the Organizing Committee. Choosing such a large-scale organization allows us to guarantee high standards while showcasing the region and making participation a key element of this edition. »
The public demonstrated its interest with the sale of nearly 100.000 tickets. The Mediterranean Games represent a real opportunity for the cultural and touristic development of Taranto, estimates its mayor Piero Bitetti. These Games represent a fundamental step in the economic redevelopment that we are actively pursuing. Moreover, this event concerns not only Taranto, but the entire Apulia region; the city and the region will become a national and international hub for sport, tourism, and hospitality. "They will also be able to keep the flame of major events alive within the country. This is not pointless, especially given the question of..." the question of a bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
