The Taranto 2026 Organising Committee and the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) held the final press conference of the 20th Mediterranean Games on Thursday, marking the conclusion of a historic edition that has transformed the city of Taranto and left a lasting legacy for future generations.

The word most frequently heard throughout the closing press conference was “legacy”, as leaders of the Mediterranean Movement reflected on the impact of the Games on sport, infrastructure and the local community.

Speaking on behalf of the ICMG, First Vice-President and Acting President Mehrez Boussayene praised the success of the Games and the contribution of all those involved.

“Taranto 2026 has delivered on its promises,” said Boussayene. “I would like to congratulate the athletes. They have given these Games their very raison d’être. Italy has put in an exceptional sporting performance. Taranto, too, has won its medal: the gold medal of legacy. The venues will continue to serve sport, young people and the whole community. This success is the result of close coordination between all stakeholders.”

He also expressed his gratitude to the volunteers and workforce who contributed to the organisation of the Games and paid tribute to the late ICMG President Davide Tizzano.

“I believe that Davide Tizzano, looking down from heaven, would think these Games went exactly as he had hoped. Now it is the turn of Kosovo and Pristina 2030 to welcome our great Mediterranean family. Taranto has written a magnificent 20th chapter; it is now up to Pristina to write the 21st. We are one family, one team, and we are all looking in the same direction. Long live the Mediterranean!”

ICMG Secretary General Iakovos Filippousis reflected on Taranto’s remarkable journey since it was awarded the Games and underlined the broader social impact generated by the event.

“I remember the first time I visited Taranto in 2020. I arrived after a four-hour trip from Naples with Davide Tizzano. I found a city facing environmental, economic and industrial challenges. We started building this legacy back then, with the ambition of improving the quality of life of the people and creating opportunities and hope for the younger generations,” Filippousis said.

“Six years later, Taranto is a modern city preparing to become an important sporting and tourism destination. The mentality of the people has changed, with a renewed sense of participation and confidence, especially among young people. This is the true meaning of legacy – proof of what sport can achieve when investment is combined with vision. Today, Taranto is a city that creates the future.”

The President of the Taranto 2026 Organising Committee and Extraordinary Commissioner for the Games infrastructure programme, Massimo Ferrarese, highlighted the extraordinary achievements of the event and the scale of the operation delivered over the past two weeks.

“We have all been a little crazy,” Ferrarese said. “Without this lucid madness, we would never have achieved the objectives we set ourselves, completed the projects included in the Masterplan and delivered what many are already calling the best Mediterranean Games ever.”

Ferrarese revealed a series of impressive figures that illustrated the magnitude of the event: more than 18,250 people were involved in the organisation, 172,000 tickets were sold, including 32,800 for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, while the transport system provided around 450 daily transfers using a fleet of 145 buses and 300 vehicles. He also noted that €26 million had been invested in the Mediterranean Village and athlete services.

“Together, we have delivered the most important sporting event ever organised in Southern Italy,” he concluded.

Carlo Molfetta, General Director of the Organizing Committee, stated. “Today is the final day. When I arrived two and a half years ago, none of this could have happened without the facilities made available by Commissioner Ferrarese and without a fantastic team. Without the support of my eight area directors and Executive Board Member Bruno Campanile, we wouldn’t be talking about this success today.” Molfetta highlighted the historic medal won by Andorra—marking the country’s first-ever podium finish at the Games—while noting that Turkey reached the milestone of one thousand medals. “Italy,” he continued, “won 224 medals, shattering the record set in Bari—which stood at 193—by a margin of 31 medals.”

As the curtain falls on Taranto 2026, the Mediterranean Games leave behind modern sports facilities, upgraded infrastructure and a renewed sense of pride and confidence in the city. The Mediterranean family now looks ahead to Pristina 2030, while celebrating a Games edition that will be remembered as a benchmark for excellence, unity and legacy.