TARANTO 

(ANSA) - TARANTO, AUGUST 21 - "We are exactly one year away from the opening ceremony of the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games, a date of profound symbolic significance, marking the beginning of the final chapter of our preparations. Today we officially begin the countdown to an event that will unite 26 nations and three continents in a celebration of sport, culture, and friendship. The Games are bridges between peoples." Davide Tizzano, president of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, said this on the sidelines of the ceremony inaugurating the official countdown to Taranto 2026. "The enthusiasm of the city, of those who are working to make the event a success, is important," he added. "It's a city steeped in tradition that, through this event, will have a wealth of essential sporting facilities. The government has made such a massive investment because sport can likely be a key vehicle for growth for young men and women." This city, Tizzano further noted, "is known for its history, but what the Games will leave behind, the day after they close, will be an important legacy. We want this edition to be one of the finest ever." The countdown, "inaugurated this evening," Taranto Mayor Piero Bitetti noted, "is an invitation to all citizens to feel part of this journey that will open the doors to this major international event. It is a celebration for the city of Taranto, for its people, a celebration for Puglia, a celebration for the country. In a year, Taranto will welcome five thousand athletes. A celebration the city is celebrating with pride and determination. A new chapter in a different future, a future that could attract the attention of the entire world. Our city will have the opportunity to showcase its beauty, its history, its cultural heritage, its origins, and the hospitality of its people," he concluded.