Puglia Region allocates 300,000 euros for sporting excellence

The Puglia Region has launched the ‘Eccellenze Sportive Puglia 2026’ initiative, allocating 300,000 euros to support athletes and teams who achieve top results in major competitions. The program targets achievements earned between September 1, 2025, and August 31, 2026, specifically for first to third-place finishes in world, European, or national championships recognized by CONI or CIP.

The funding is divided into four distinct categories: team sports for able-bodied athletes, team sports for athletes with disabilities, individual sports for able-bodied athletes, and individual sports for athletes with disabilities. For team disciplines, grants of 3,500 euros are designated for world or European titles, and 1,500 euros for national titles. In these cases, the funds are awarded to the sports association (ASD or SSD), which must distribute at least 50% of the amount equally among the contributing athletes.

For individual disciplines, the grants consist of 1,500 euros for world or European championships and 750 euros for national titles, paid directly to the athlete. Cristian Casili, the Puglia Region Sport Assessor, stated that the initiative aims to provide concrete recognition to the entire support network of athletes and to create conditions for talent to continue growing.