The XX Mediterranean Games opened on August 21 at the Erasmo Iacovone Stadium in Taranto, in the presence of the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella, the fourth edition hosted by Italy after Naples 1963, Bari 1997 and Pescara 2009. Italian flag bearers were Irma Testa and Filippo Tortu. From there began two weeks of competitions in 33 disciplines, with debuts for finswimming, padel, roller marathon and skateboard.
An unrivaled medal count
Day after day, Italy built a lead that was never truly in question. At the end of the competitions on Monday, August 31, the Italian delegation occupied first place with 164 total medals, divided into 58 golds, 58 silvers and 48 bronzes, with Turkey already at an astronomical distance.
In the following days the haul grew even more: at the end of the competitions on Wednesday, September 2, Italy had reached 223 medals, 73 golds, 78 silvers and 72 bronzes.
A number that alone tells the story of Italian dominance, because the previous Italian record in a single edition of the event was represented by the 193 podiums won in Bari in 1997, surpassed well before the last day of competition. Swimming and cycling led the haul, but the final count tells of an Italy capable of excelling also in boxing, triathlon, weightlifting and water polo.
The closing
On September 3, at the Iacovone stadium once again sold out, came the time for goodbyes, with fireworks, the parade of flags of the 26 participating countries and the performance by Karima with the Magna Grecia Orchestra. The mayor of Taranto, Piero Bitetti, handed over to the mayor of Pristina, Përparim Rama: it will be the capital of Kosovo to host the twenty-first edition, from July 24 to August 4, 2030.
What remains are the numbers of an event that was able to blend sport and local identity, and an Italy that closes in first place in the medal count, taking home the richest haul in its history at the Mediterranean Games.
Photo: facebook.com/GiochiDelMediterraneoTaranto2026/ Article created with AI support, verified, corrected and approved by the Tuttoitalia.ch editorial team.
