It is truly the turning point for the 2026 Mediterranean Games. In the early afternoon of yesterday, in fact, a decisive moment took place, with the signing of the memorandum of understanding between Commissioner Massimo Ferrarese and the mayors of the area, led by the first citizen of Taranto Rinaldo Melucci, summoned by the commissioner himself to put down on paper the ok to the agreement which specifies interventions, timetable and resources for each municipality that will be involved in the international event.
Meanwhile, it is the deputy mayor and municipal councilor for Sport and Economic Development, Gianni Azzaro, who underlines how «after the interministerial decree that finances the Masterplan and the definitive green light from the Court of Auditors, a new phase has now opened for the Games of Mediterranean: the works can finally be contracted out and the construction sites can be opened. Of course, times have become particularly tight, but we have now emerged from a phase of uncertainty, which had even put the holding of this prestigious international sporting event at risk. All this was possible thanks to the positive climate, characterized by a spirit of active and loyal institutional collaboration, which was created after the establishment of the new organizing committee.”
Azzaro highlights how «as the works plan is developed and the related resources are defined, it emerges that the budget allocated to the Games will far exceed the original 150 million euros. Furthermore, the Extraordinary Commissioner took into consideration, on the proposal of the capital municipality, a series of works which will implement, in addition to the already approved sports facilities, “context and connection” interventions, foreseeing their inclusion within the subsequent Masterplans ». What does it mean? «These are – explains the deputy mayor – further projects, already included in the planning tools of the municipal administration, functional and complementary to the plant interventions foreseen by the Games».
Much has been said in recent days about the resources for the event which will be staged in 2026 – and about the divisions between different “areas” of Puglia. «At present, the resources allocated specifically to Taranto have gone from the original 79 million euros expected at the end of 2022 to the current over 103 million euros with an increase of 24 million» claims Azzaro. «So, contrary to what is claimed by some who continue to keep their heads turned backwards and who linger in sterile controversies, the financial allocation for the Games has grown considerably and the vast majority of the works financed are expected in the Ionian capital with limited exceptions. So much so that all the most important activities will be concentrated in Taranto, starting with the fact that the athletes who will participate in the competitions in the various disciplines will be hosted by us and the main competitions and, in any case, the most important phases of the Games will take place in our city”.
Therefore, the Mediterranean Games will represent not only an exceptional opportunity to make Taranto known on an international level, but will also leave a legacy to our city with an extraordinary amount of new infrastructures and sports facilities which will remain available to sports enthusiasts and all citizens of Taranto.
