Puglia earmarks €400,000 for Mediterranean Games, releases official video

The Apulian regional administration has allocated a total of €400,000 to support ancillary events for the 2026 Mediterranean Games, focusing on the cities of Lecce and Taranto. The funding will finance promotional activities, local sports programmes and inclusion initiatives aimed at engaging communities ahead of the Games, which are scheduled for late August to early September 2026.

In a separate ceremony at the regional council’s Agorà, officials unveiled the official promotional video for the Taranto edition of the Games. The clip, set to a song by local singer Mietta, introduces the mascot Ionios—a dolphin symbolising the city’s connection to the Ionian Sea—and the motto “Embrace The Future.” The video highlights participation from roughly 26 countries across three continents and the contest of 28 sports disciplines.

Both moves are part of Puglia’s broader effort to leverage the international sporting event to raise the region’s profile, stimulate tourism and foster social cohesion through sport.