Southern Italian city getting new venues ready for 2026 Mediterranean Games

By Fatih Erel

ISTANBUL (AA) - New sports facilities have been built for the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, a historic city in southern Italy, the organizer said on Friday.

"With the construction of eight interconnected modern sports competitions, the city is creating a new sports environment that can host national and international competitions while creating economic and social opportunities for the local population," the organization said in a statement.

"The city's Olympic-sized swimming pools overlooking the Mar Grande River in the Mediterranean; the Magna Grecia Sports Center, a new center for tennis; the athletics track, the symbolic heart of every sport, and the New Lacovone Stadium; as well as a skateboard park and a new ice rink, complete a new and diversified venue system," it said.

Within the overall Taranto 2026 infrastructure plan, sports are reportedly being developed in other cities in the region.

"The distribution of transformational urban areas is expanding: activities are also continuing in the provinces of Brindisi, Lecce, and Bari, and a network of facilities ready to meet international standards is being established," it added.

The 2026 Mediterranean Games, hosted by Taranto, will be held next Aug. 21 to Sept. 3.