The European Broadcasting Union and the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games recently announced the renewal of their audiovisual deal to bring Taranto 2026 and Portimão-Lagoa 2027 free-to-air across Europe, North Africa and other markets.
The new agreement will allow EBU members to broadcast both events across television, radio and digital services, while Eurovision Sport, the organisation’s free streaming platform, will provide additional international exposure to strengthen the visibility of two of the region’s leading multi-sport events.
The renewal consolidates a relationship that began with the acquisition of the rights to the Oran 2022 Mediterranean Games and continued with the Heraklion 2023 Mediterranean Beach Games. Since then, the collaboration between the two parties has been presented as a tool to broaden the reach and profile of the competitions, strengthen their sporting narrative and reinforce their position among the world’s leading regional multi-sport events.
Taranto 2026 will take place from 21 August to 3 September 2026 and will feature a programme of 31 sports. The Italian event will combine established disciplines such as athletics, swimming, gymnastics and volleyball with sports that reflect the recent evolution of the programme, including 3×3 basketball, padel, skateboarding and roller sports.
A year later, the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games will be held from 11 to 18 September, with a programme focused on beach and water sports, including beach volleyball, beach soccer, kiteboarding, open-water swimming and rowing beach sprint.
Iakovos Filippousis, secretary general of the ICMG, placed the renewal on a strategic level for the organisation. “The renewal of our partnership with the European Broadcasting Union is of strategic importance for the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games. It is not simply a broadcasting agreement; it is a strong alliance built on shared values, common vision and a deep commitment to bringing the Mediterranean Games closer to the people, especially to younger generations and new audiences,” he said Thursday.
Filippousis argued that cooperation with the EBU has already had a decisive effect on the visibility of its events. In his assessment, Oran 2022 and Heraklion 2023 showed how “the expertise, credibility and network, as well as the highest broadcasting standards of the EBU and its Members can significantly increase the viewership of the Games, strengthen their storytelling and offer athletes the exposure they deserve on a much wider stage”.
The secretary general also stressed that free-to-air coverage in numerous Mediterranean countries and in other territories fits with the ICMG’s mission to make its competitions more accessible, visible and relevant to all. According to Filippousis, the alliance helps to build a stronger platform for athletes, national Olympic committees, host cities and the wider Mediterranean sporting family, as well as contributing to raising the profile of the Games.
“The ICMG deeply values this strategic alliance and looks forward to continuing to work closely with the EBU and its Members in order to deliver outstanding coverage of Taranto 2026 and Portimão-Lagoa 2027, while further strengthening the legacy and future of the Mediterranean Games,” he added.
Andreas Aristodemou, director of Olympics at EBU Sport, linked the agreement to the ability of these competitions to bring audiences together through sport and celebrate the region’s diversity. “The Mediterranean Games continue to represent a unique opportunity to bring audiences together through sport and to celebrate the diversity and shared heritage of the Mediterranean region.”
Aristodemou also underlined the multicultural character of Games that bring together athletes and spectators from Europe, Africa and Asia, a dimension which, he explained, makes them especially significant for the EBU and its Mediterranean members. The executive said the organisation wanted to build on the success of its first phase of collaboration with the ICMG to continue expanding the reach of the Games and bringing more fans closer to the stories behind them.
“Together with our members and through our Eurovision Sport platform, we look forward to bringing Taranto 2026 and Portimão-Lagoa 2027 to our audiences across Europe, North Africa and beyond,” Aristodemou said.
The renewal forms part of the EBU’s broader commitment to the coverage of leading multi-sport events. With programmes that combine established Olympic disciplines with growing urban, water and beach sports, the Mediterranean Games continue to provide a platform for exposure for new generations of fans on the road to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Leave a Reply