Cyprus prepares for Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games

The 20th Mediterranean Games, known as Taranto 2026, are set to commence in the Apulia region of Italy on August 21 and will run until September 3. The event will host over 4,000 athletes representing 26 countries. Cyprus is participating with a delegation of 145 athletes competing across 24 different sports. A notable milestone for the national delegation is the historic inclusion of the men's handball team, marking their first appearance at these games.

At the opening ceremony on August 21, the Cyprus national team will be led by co-flag bearers: Ioulios Argyrou, captain of the national handball team, and shooter Konstantina Nikolaou. This selection recognizes Argyrou's career and contribution to the sport. Regarding the tournament schedule, the Cypriot handball team is placed in Group B, with matches scheduled against Algeria on August 23, Tunisia on August 25, and Greece on August 27. Depending on their final group standing, the team will participate in classification matches on August 29 and 31, with the top two teams from each group advancing to medal contention, while others compete for the 5th to 8th places.