Taranto Welcomes Nation’s Ambitious Mediterranean Games Squad

Algeria's athletic delegation is set to begin its participation in the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, with significant aspirations for distinguished results. The competition, which extends until September 3, will see Algerian champions striving to replicate the historic achievements from the previous edition hosted in Oran. The Algerian contingent, comprising 248 athletes, stands as the fifth largest among participating nations, reflecting a strong national presence across 27 sports disciplines.

The national elite aims to continue the upward trajectory that has marked Algeria's involvement in the Mediterranean Games, particularly following their remarkable performance at the 2022 Oran Games. In that nineteenth edition, Algeria secured an impressive fourth place in the overall standings, earning a total of 53 medals. This haul included 20 gold, 17 silver, and 16 bronze medals, representing the best historical tally for Algeria in the history of its Mediterranean Games participation.

The Oran Games showcased exceptional talent across various sports, including athletics, boxing, karate, swimming, weightlifting, judo, wrestling, fencing, and badminton. Algerian athletics, for instance, contributed 13 medals, featuring five golds from athletes such as Bilal Tabti in the 3000-meter steeplechase and Djamel Sedjati in the 800-meter race. The national karate team notably topped its medal table with six medals, four of which were gold, while the boxing team secured 13 medals, including five golds. Fencer Sawsan Boudiaf also achieved a historic gold medal, underscoring the diverse capabilities of the Algerian athletes.

With the commencement of the Taranto Games, all eyes are on the Algerian delegation, which is eager to continue its legacy of collecting medals and raising the national flag high at the Mediterranean forum.