Τhe masterplan of Taranto 2026 was presented at the «Salone degli Specchi» of the Municipality of Taranto. Τhe 20 edition of the Mediterranean Games will see the Ionian city as the center of the event that will involve another 21 Apulian municipalities.

Fifty sports facilities will be used as competition and training venues, 10% of which are newly built. The President of Coni, Giovanni Malagò, was present at the event, together with representatives of the organization of the Games and the Puglia Region, including Davide Tizzano, President of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games, the President of the Puglia Region, Michele Emiliano, the mayors of the cities in the Ionian-Taranto area and Elio Sannicandro, Director of ‘Taranto2026’.

“2026 will be a special year for Italian sports” declared President Malagò. “In addition to the Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, Italy, with Taranto and Puglia, will host the XX edition of the Mediterranean Games. It will be another important recognition for our country and, in particular, for the sports world which refers to the Italian National Olympic Committee and which is appreciated abroad for the skills shown in organizing major events. The Municipality of Taranto and all the local municipalities, thanks to the skills and commitment of the Organizing Committee, will be able to enhance an area which, through this very important sporting event, will find an extraordinary opportunity for promotion and relaunch, also in terms of redevelopment of the sports facilities. With satisfaction and pride I can say that Italy will experience 2026 as an absolute protagonist on the stage of world sports” said Malago.

At the end of the master plan presentation, the mayors of the area signed a joint document addressed to the Prime Minister Mario Draghi, to the Ministers Mara Carfagna and Daniele Franco and to the Undersecretary for Sport, Valentina Vezzali, requesting from the Italian government the proper financial support, in order to guarantee that the organization of the XX edition of the Mediterranean Games will be providing the quality and the importance of an international sports event that can honor Taranto, Puglia and the whole of Italy.