The Capo San Vito Lighthouse in Taranto was the starting point for a journey that will connect Taranto and Portimão by road and by sea, symbolising the transition from the Taranto 2026 Mediterranean Games to the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games.

Triathlete João Pereira, a champion at the Tarragona 2018 Mediterranean Games, is driving an electric vehicle provided by BMW, with energy for the entire journey supplied by Repsol. The journey will cover more than 3,000 kilometres. Along the way, Mediterranean water will be collected, representing the unity of the countries connected by the sea and the spirit of the Mediterranean Games. The journey will also stop at a number of iconic lighthouses across the Mediterranean basin, which connects Europe and Africa.

The journey will also include visits to several National Olympic Committees, including those of Italy, San Marino, France and Andorra, where the flag of the 2027 Games will be presented.

The sea leg of the journey will begin in Tangier and will include Olympic athlete José Costa on board. Both the car and the boat are expected to arrive at Ponta do Altar Lighthouse on 18 September, marking one year to go until the Opening Ceremony of the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games.

The entire journey can be followed on the social media channels of the Portuguese Olympic Committee.

Taranto departure attended by special guests

The departure from Taranto was attended by Portuguese Olympic Committee President Fernando Gomes, Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Organising Committee Director-General Pedro Farromba, Mayor of Portimão Álvaro Bila, Mayor of Lagoa Luís Encarnação, International Committee of Mediterranean Games Secretary General Iakovos Filippousis, as well as representatives of the Italian Navy and the Capo San Vito Lighthouse.

On the occasion, the COP President thanked all the organisations involved in the organisation of next year's competition for their close cooperation, reaffirming the ambition to deliver “the best Mediterranean Beach Games ever”.

“The lighthouse and the water will be the symbols of the Portimão-Lagoa 2027 Mediterranean Beach Games and mean a great deal to us as Portuguese and to the Algarve,” he said.

The Mayor of Lagoa highlighted the “enthusiasm” with which he is following the journey and reaffirmed the municipality's commitment to providing all the necessary conditions for the competition. This commitment was echoed by the Mayor of Portimão, who added that the city would be “open arms” to welcome the Mediterranean Family.