Macedonia is officially beginning its campaign at the 2026 Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy, with the country represented by its largest delegation ever at the event. A total of 130 people are part of the delegation, including 88 athletes competing across 19 sports. President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova has also arrived in Taranto and met with the Macedonian delegation at the Olympic Village, where she spoke with the athletes, offered her support and wished them success before the competitions begin. Her presence is particularly significant because, according to the report, she is the first Macedonian president to attend the Mediterranean Games since the country began participating in the event.
The Games officially begin on August 21 and will continue until September 3, with some Macedonian athletes already competing. The country will participate in 19 of the 33 sports on the program, including athletics, badminton, boxing, cycling, equestrian sports, fencing, rhythmic gymnastics, judo, karate, shooting, swimming, taekwondo, tennis, triathlon and wrestling. Macedonia will also compete in team sports, including women’s handball and volleyball, men’s 3×3 basketball and the men’s under 21 football team. Siljanovska Davkova is expected to remain in Taranto for two days and attend the official opening ceremony alongside representatives of other participating countries.
The delegation is the largest in Macedonia’s history at the Mediterranean Games, making Taranto 2026 an important moment for the country’s sporting community. The Macedonian Olympic Committee has supported preparations, while mental performance coach Sofia Arnaudova is working with athletes on concentration, preparation and managing competition pressure. Macedonia has previously won 14 medals at the Mediterranean Games, and officials hope the athletes in Taranto can add to that total. The women’s volleyball team has already begun its campaign with a match against Turkey.
For the athletes, the focus now shifts fully from preparation to competition. Over the coming days, Macedonian competitors will have the opportunity to test themselves against athletes from across the Mediterranean and fight for medals in their respective sports. With the country’s biggest delegation yet and presidential support at the Olympic Village, Macedonia’s Taranto 2026 journey is officially underway.
