TARANTO 

(ANSA) - TARANTO, AUGUST 21 - "It is the symbol of a collective commitment: of a community, of a territory, of a large Mediterranean family that believes in sport as a force that unites, inspires, and builds. Taranto 2026 will be a celebration of excellence and cooperation, and this moment marks its official beginning." Massimo Ferrarese, Special Commissioner for Taranto 2026 and President of the Mediterranean Games Organizing Committee, declared this evening at the official countdown ceremony in front of the city hall. "We want to show the world, and not just at the national level," he added, "what Taranto is, the truth about Taranto, and the beauty of Taranto. The Games will also be held in other parts of Puglia. It's therefore a moment of joy for our region. What I ask of the citizens and all the institutions is: give us a hand. It took seven years to do all this. We have to do it in two and a half years, since we started, and that's an exceptional thing." For Ferrarese, "this is the busiest year, not only because the work has all started, but also because the real organization is beginning, and we must continue like this. There are 41 construction sites, 21 municipalities involved. Imagine doing all this in such a short time." "We can build all the construction sites we want," he concluded, "but without organization we'd get nowhere. The work on the facilities is proceeding perfectly according to schedule. Let's keep going like this."