With Mario Georgiou and Marina Hatzikosta serving as flag bearers, Cyprus was represented at the Closing Ceremony of the 20th Mediterranean Games “Taranto 2026,” which took place on Thursday evening at the Stadio Erasmo Iacovone. The two athletes participated in the special ceremony on the stadium field, where Greece was honored to enter first, with flag-bearers Evangelia Anastasiadou and Petros Gaidatzis, followed by the flag bearers of the other countries.
Cyprus’s Best Performance in the History of the Games
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
The Cypriot delegation concluded its most successful appearance in the history of the Mediterranean Games in Taranto. With 145 male and female athletes competing in 24 sports, Cyprus won a total of 18 medals—7 gold, 6 silver, and 5 bronze—marking its best medal haul in all its appearances at the event to date.
This performance placed Cyprus 11th in the medal count among the 26 countries participating in the 20th Mediterranean Games.
From “Taranto 26” to “Pristina 30”
A significant ceremonial part of the evening was the handover of the Mediterranean Games flag to the next host city. This ceremonial segment of the Closing Ceremony was observed from the VIP stand by representatives of the Mediterranean sports movement, including the Treasurer of the Mediterranean Sports Federation (DEMA) and Secretary General of the Cyprus Olympic Committee, Mr. Giotis Ioannidis.
Following the conclusion of the Games in Taranto, the Games flag was handed over to the President of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG) and then to the Mayor of Pristina, as Kosovo will host the next edition of the Mediterranean Games in 2030.
This ceremony marked the official transition from “Taranto26” to “Pristina 30,” with Taranto passing the torch to the next host city.
“Mediterraneo in Festa”
The Closing Ceremony, titled “Mediterraneo in Festa,” was designed as a grand celebration of sports, music, and culture, with a strong focus on Taranto and Apulia.
The athletic delegations from all 26 countries watched the ceremony from the stands at the Iacovone Stadium, along with the general public. Only the countries’ flag bearers entered the field as part of the special ritual of the Closing Ceremony.
The artistic program prominently highlighted the region’s local cultural identity. The musical tradition of Apulia was represented by local artists and groups, including Terraròss, while Rossella Brescia, Karima, Attitude, and Moses Concas also performed.
The Orchestra della Magna Grecia held a special place, accompanying part of the program. Its presence lent the ceremony a special symbolism, as its name and identity refer to Magna Graecia, the historical region of Southern Italy where the ancient Greek colonies flourished. Taranto, as one of the major cities of ancient Magna Graecia, is directly linked to this Greek cultural heritage in Southern Italy.
Rockin’1000 and “Seven Nation Army”
The evening’s main musical event culminated with Rockin’1000, in a spectacular production that made use of the entire playing field of the “Iacovone” stadium.
The musicians spread out across the entire playing field of the stadium, forming a massive live band: percussion and drums, electric guitars, basses, and keyboards occupied different sections of the field. The overall picture gave the impression that the entire stadium had been transformed into a massive music stage. The rock music of Rockin’1000 and the Orchestra della Magna Grecia came together at various points throughout the artistic program.
Among the songs performed with Rockin’1000, “Seven Nation Army” by The White Stripes stood out— one of the most iconic songs of Rockin’1000’s live performances and a track that, through its well-known rhythmic motif, has become internationally associated with stadiums and sports.
The program also included iconic rock hits, including “Hey Jude” by The Beatles and “Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis, bringing the Closing Ceremony to a particularly dynamic musical finale.
The sight of hundreds of musicians playing simultaneously at different points around the stadium was also the central message of the musical performance: many different voices and instruments coexisting to create a single, unified sound.
Italian Music and the Finale
The program also featured Serena Autieri, who, accompanied by the Orchestra della Magna Grecia, performed Domenico Modugno’s “Meraviglioso,” linking the evening to the Italian musical tradition and, more specifically, to the cultural identity of Puglia. Mille followed, performing Franco Battiato’s “Up Patriots to Arms,” before the Rockin’1000 returned for the grand musical finale.
The Closing Ceremony thus served as the final gathering for the 26 athletic delegations that had gathered in Taranto, as they set a new date to meet again in four years in Pristina, Kosovo.
