According to the statement of the Turkish National Olympic Committee, the opening ceremony of the organization will be held tomorrow at 21.00 at Erasmo Iacovone Stadium.
The competitions will be held in facilities located in Taranto and the surrounding Puglia Region.
While some of the existing sports facilities were renewed within the scope of the organization, new facilities complying with international standards were also put into service.
ATHLETES WILL ACCOMMODATE ON CRUISE SHIPS
As part of Taranto 2026, instead of a permanent athlete village, cruise ships Aroya and Romanika, which will anchor at the Mar Grande Naval Base, will be used to accommodate the athletes.
Games; It will be organized in 3x3 basketball, shooting, athletics, badminton, cycling, equestrian, bocce, boxing, gymnastics, fencing, football, wrestling, weightlifting, handball, judo, canoeing, karate, skateboarding, rowing, table tennis, archery, padel, finswimming, water polo, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon, volleyball, sailing and swimming.
Türkiye WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE GAMES WITH 334 ATHLETES
Türkiye will participate in Taranto 2026, which will end on September 3, with 334 athletes, 137 women and 197 men, in 29 branches. Team Türkiye will compete in all sports except handball in the organization.
The branch with the highest number of athletes in the crescent-star group was athletics. In the organization, 39 national athletes will compete for medals in athletics and 27 in swimming.
On the other hand, group competitions in volleyball will start before the opening ceremony. In women's volleyball, the national team will face North Macedonia today at 18.00 GMT.
MINISTER BAK WISHED NATIONAL ATHLETES SUCCESS
Minister of Youth and Sports Osman Aşkın Bak made evaluations before the 20th Mediterranean Games.
Minister Bak wished success to the national athletes who will compete in the Mediterranean Games and stated that he wholeheartedly believes that results that will please Türkiye will be achieved.
Emphasizing that the increase in the number of medals won in international competitions in recent years is a source of pride, Minister Bak said, "We are witnessing the victories achieved by our athletes in the international arena. We are gaining historical success in different branches. The basis of these pleasing results is the support given by our President to sports and athletes. We have the newest and most modern facilities in the world. Successes are achieved as a result of accessibility, coach and athlete training, and coordination. Our national athletes do not only compete for medals, but also play an important role in the promotion of our country. Our national athletes also play an important role in the promotion of our country in the Mediterranean Games. "We have full confidence that you will continue to make us proud and wave our star and crescent flag on the medal stands. I wish success to our athletes and coaches in the Mediterranean Games." he said.
