The 20th Mediterranean Games are not only a showcase of sporting competition among 26 nations, but also a major event whose numbers offer an interesting picture of participation, gender balance, volunteering, healthcare and the scale of the Games.
More than 3000 volunteers are involved in the organisation or support of the Mediterranean Games, while around 700 doctors, nurses and emergency responders have been mobilised to provide medical services to participants.
Mehrez Boussayene, First Vice-President of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games, highlighted the importance of volunteers during the committee’s 36th General Assembly, describing them as being “at the heart of the Games.”
The Games officially opened in Taranto on Thursday, 21 August, with a spectacular opening ceremony and the traditional Parade of Athletes, attended by Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy.
A total of 3,803 athletes are competing in Taranto, including 2,189 men and 1,614 women.
Volunteers – Taranto 2026
Italy leads the field
The participation figures, particularly the number of female athletes, provide an important snapshot of gender representation across the 26 participating nations.
As expected, Italy, the host nation, has the largest delegation, with 497 athletes, including 259 women and 238 men.
Turkey follows with 335 athletes, comprising 127 women and 198 men. France has 327 athletes, including 150 women and 177 men, while Greece has 277 athletes, with 123 women and 154 men.
Algeria completes the top five, with 269 athletes, including 104 women and 165 men.
Slovenia achieves a perfect gender balance
Among the 26 participating nations, Slovenia stands out for achieving the most balanced representation between male and female athletes.
Slovenia has brought 168 athletes to Taranto, exactly divided between 84 women and 84 men.
That gives the Slovenian delegation a perfect 50-50 gender balance, making it the clearest example of equal representation among the participating countries.
Taranto 2026
San Marino puts women ahead
The small nation of San Marino has also recorded a notable figure in terms of female participation.
Its delegation consists of 29 athletes, including 16 women and 13 men.
Women therefore outnumber men in San Marino’s delegation, an unusual and noteworthy result among the participating nations.
A total of 1,853 medals will be distributed during the Games.
One of the most distinctive initiatives of Taranto 2026 is the decision to accommodate athletes aboard two luxury cruise ships, Aroya and Romantica.
The initiative represents an unusual approach to athlete accommodation and is among the most distinctive organisational features of this edition of the Mediterranean Games.
Nearly 700 medical staff on duty
Healthcare and medical services for participants are being coordinated by the Health and Safety Department, with close to 700 doctors, nurses and emergency responders working throughout the Games.
Their role covers the medical needs of athletes and other participants during the competition.
Opening ceremony – Toronto 2026
Around 100,000 tickets sold
According to figures obtained by SportsIn, approximately 100,000 tickets had been sold by 19 August.
Volunteer participation has also been significant. Around 11,000 people applied to support the organisers during the Games, with 3,000 volunteers ultimately approved and recruited.
Female participation reaches 42.4%
One of the most significant statistical indicators of Taranto 2026 is the ratio between female and male athletes.
Of the 3,803 athletes, 1,614 are women, representing approximately 42.4% of the total, compared with 2,189 men.
The figure demonstrates a significant and relatively balanced level of female participation, although the Games have not yet reached a full 50-50 gender split.
Women remain approximately 7.6 percentage points short of equal representation.
In other words, while female participation has reached a substantial level at Taranto 2026, there is still a measurable gap before full gender parity is achieved.
Mustapha Berraf member of IOC – Taranto 2026
Algeria leads North Africa
Among the North African nations, Algeria records the highest level of female participation, while Libya has the lowest.
Algeria has 104 female athletes among its 269 competitors, giving women a significant presence within its delegation.
The figures across the participating nations, however, show that female representation remains uneven from one country to another.
Among the European nations, Bosnia and Herzegovina is one of the countries with a relatively low percentage of female athletes in its delegation.
The differences between national delegations underline the fact that, although the overall Games are moving towards greater gender balance, the level of female participation remains far from uniform across the 26 member nations.
Taranto 2026
Syria returns with notable female participation
Syria is also part of a particularly significant story at Taranto 2026.
Following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, Syria is participating in the Mediterranean Games for the first time, bringing a delegation of 31 athletes to Taranto.
The delegation includes 12 women and 19 men, giving female athletes a notable presence in Syria’s return to the Mediterranean Games.
More than just numbers
The statistics surrounding the 20th Mediterranean Games tell a story that extends well beyond medals and competition.
Thousands of athletes, thousands of volunteers, hundreds of medical professionals and tens of thousands of spectators and ticket buyers are contributing to the scale of Taranto 2026.
Among the most significant figures is the 42.4% share of female athletes. While Slovenia has achieved a perfect 50-50 balance and San Marino has even recorded more female than male athletes, the differences between countries show that the journey towards full gender equality in Mediterranean sport is still ongoing.
With 1,853 medals at stake, Taranto 2026 is not only a competition for sporting success. It is also a statistical snapshot of participation, gender representation, volunteering and the organisational capacity behind one of the Mediterranean region’s largest multi-sport events.
Photographer: Vasilios Koutroumanos
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