Taranto: Piece of Mediterranean Games podium goes missing

A piece of the Mediterranean Games podium disappeared in Taranto following the cycling competitions. The missing component is an aluminum and rubber covering, measuring approximately 80 by 25 centimeters, located between the bronze and gold platforms.

Organizing committee staff discovered the loss during cleaning operations. While the economic value of the piece is considered negligible, investigators suspect the theft may have been a prank or an attempt by a collector to obtain a unique souvenir. The disappearance occurred on a day when Italian cycling won two golds, one silver, and two bronzes, making the podium a highly photographed symbol of the event.

The podium design, created by graphic designer Marco Panico, was inspired by the Ponte di Pietra, one of the historic bridges connecting the Mar Grande and Mar Piccolo in Taranto.