Algerian Radio
The Algerian delegation for the 2026 Mediterranean Games, scheduled to be held in Taranto, Italy, from August 21 to September 3, will be the second largest after the host country, the Algerian Olympic and Sports Committee (COA) announced Monday.
"The Algerian delegation for the 2026 MG, in its expanded list, consists of 420 people, including more than 200 athletes. The final list will be completed within the deadlines and announced later, depending notably on adjustments related to the general program of disciplines, some of which may be canceled or modified by the organizers," detailed Zoubida Bouyacoub, Algeria's Chef de Mission, during a press conference held at COA headquarters featuring representatives from various national sports federations.
According to the same source, the delegations will be housed in an unprecedented manner aboard two cruise ships moored at the Taranto naval base, offering 3,200 and 2,300 beds respectively, for a total capacity of 5,500 places. Each ship will be equipped with three restaurants open 24/7 to meet the athletes' needs.
On the organizational front, Ms. Bouyacoub specified that "some site changes have been announced for certain disciplines, such as table tennis and swimming, while several infrastructures are still under construction. The organizers have, however, assured that all facilities will be ready before July 31, 2026."
"We are working to bring these services closer to the athletes' accommodation sites to optimize health monitoring," the official further explained.
Furthermore, the men's football event has been canceled by the organizers and will not feature in the program of this edition due to an insufficient number of participating nations, as regulations require the participation of at least eight teams.
In preparation for this Mediterranean rendezvous, the COA has also provided sports federations with a dedicated platform for athlete registration and the acquisition of equipment necessary for their participation.
As a reminder, Zoubida Bouyacoub took part in the Chef de Mission meeting held on March 28 and 29 in Italy, which brought together 26 representatives of national Olympic committees under the aegis of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG) and the organizing committee. Field visits were conducted at competition sites to assess the progress of preparations.
Approximately 5,000 athletes from 26 countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia will participate in this multi-disciplinary competition, inspired by the Olympic model and intended to promote cooperation between the nations of the Mediterranean basin.
It is worth noting that the last edition (19th) of the Mediterranean Games was held in the wilaya of Oran (Algeria) in 2022, while the inaugural edition was organized in Alexandria (Egypt) in 1951.
