The International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) and the Taranto 2026 Organizing Committee held, from 27 to 29 March 2026 in Taranto, the Chefs de Mission Seminar for the National Olympic Committees participating in the 20th edition of the Mediterranean Games, along with joint meetings, marking a decisive milestone in the final phase of preparation for this major Mediterranean event.

Held five months before the Opening Ceremony, announced for August 21st, 2026, this strategic gathering provided a comprehensive update on the progress of preparations and strengthened coordination among all stakeholders.

A strong institutional mobilisation at the seminar’s opening

The opening ceremony featured addresses by the Division Admiral commanding the Taranto Naval Base, the Mayor of the city, the general director of the Organizing Committee and the Secretary General of the ICMG.

In his address, Mr. Iakovos Filippousis opened his remarks by calling for a minute of silence in memory of the late President of the ICMG, Davide Tizzano.

He then highlighted the strategic importance of this Seminar, marking the entry into the final stretch towards the Games, and emphasized the key role of Chefs de Mission in ensuring the success of the event. He also underlined the spirit of solidarity and the Mediterranean values that underpin the Games.

He further expressed particular appreciation to the Italian Navy for its exemplary commitment, notably through the provision of the Taranto Naval Base to host the Athletes’ Village — an innovative concept ensuring optimal conditions in terms of accommodation, logistics and security.

Admiral Petroni, the Mayor of Taranto Pierro Bitetti as well as the general director of the Organizing Committee Carlo Molfetta, for their part, underlined the honour of hosting this major event and reaffirmed their full commitment to its success.

Strong mobilisation and professionalism at the core of the discussions

Over the two days, Chefs de Mission took part in depth working sessions covering all key organizational aspects of the Games: sports programme, competition venues, accreditation, transport, accommodation, athletes’ village, media, protocol, security…

These detailed presentations provided clear visibility on the systems in place and addressed the expectations of delegations as they finalize their preparations.

Infrastructure nearing completion

Discussions also highlighted the progress of sports infrastructure: several venues are already close to being operational, while others are in the final stages of completion.

The Organizing Committee is making every effort to complete all installations on schedule, with the objective of early delivery to allow for the organization of test events. As emphasized by the ICMG Secretary General, these events are essential to fine-tune organizational arrangements and ensure optimal conditions for hosting.

Validation of technical manuals: a decisive milestone

The Seminar was marked by a major achievement with the final validation of all technical manuals for the sports on the Games programme.

Developed through close coordination over the past months between the ICMG Technical Commission, the Organizing Committee and the International Federations, these documents were officially approved by the Technical Delegates of the respective International Federations.

They now constitute the operational reference for National Olympic Committees, particularly for defining athlete quotas, structuring delegations and planning their sports preparation.

Organizational ramp-up

The discussions also highlighted a significant ramp-up of the Organizing Committee, whose teams, increasingly strengthened, are fully mobilized as the Games approach.

The Organizing Committee headquarters reflects this dynamic, with sustained activity demonstrating full operational commitment — resembling a true beehive in full motion.

Increasing visibility of the Games across the territory

This momentum is also reflected in the growing visibility of the Games across the Puglia region.

In Bari and Brindisi Airports as well as in the city of Taranto, including main roads and competition venues, the visual identity of Taranto 2026 is now established.

This presence reinforces the territorial anchoring of the event and contributes to mobilizing all local stakeholders around this major Mediterranean gathering.

Entering the final stretch

At the conclusion of the Seminar, preparations for the Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026 are clearly entering a decisive phase, driven by strong collective mobilisation.

All stakeholders are now fully committed to a shared objective: staging successful Games that reflect the ambitions and values of the Mediterranean Family and Athletes.