The curtain rises on Oran 2022. The opening ceremony was held this evening at the Olympic Stadium in Oran, officially opening the 19th edition of the Mediterranean Games that will be hosted by Algeria until 6 July.
Leading the parade of athletes from the 26 participating nations was Greece, with Algeria being last to enter the stadium.
The delegation of Team Italy (the largest at the Games with its 369 athletes, competing in 24 disciplines), entered the field fifth, after Spain and before Portugal, led by two flag-bearers (the double flag-bearer makes its debut at this event, as it did at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics) Diana Bacosi, Olympic gold medallist in the shooting at Rio 2016, and Luigi Busà, Olympic champion in karate at Tokyo 2020. Behind them were some 130 athletes and officials, including CONI Secretary General Carlo Mornati, who arrived in Algeria today, and Head of Mission Giampiero Pastore, representing 12 sports. The atmosphere in the stands was red-hot, with the Algerian public cheering for their team, although they did not hold back in their cheers and applause for the athletes of Team Italy, the most celebrated foreign delegation, with an entire stadium chanting: “Italy! Italy!”.

In the stands, Italy was supported by the Minister of the Interior, Luciana Lamorgese, representing the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the Undersecretary responsible for Sport, Valentina Vezzali. But there is also a bit of Italy in the Presidency of the Confederation of the Mediterranean Games, headed by Davide Tizzano, and in the Taranto 2026 delegation that will take the baton from Oran for the 3-ring event.

Numerous political authorities were present, invited by the Algerian Head of State, Abdelmadjid Tebboune.
After 47 years, the Mediterranean Games return to Algerian soil, from which they have been missing since the 1975 edition in Algiers, and this evening's ceremony celebrated - with a symphony orchestra, 200 choristers and 300 dancers - the landscapes and the sea that unite distant lands and the culture of the North African country, between tradition and modernity, a country that, today more than ever, plays a leading role in the international geopolitical chessboard.

The Italian team is ready to compete in 24 sports, with the aim of once again confirming its leadership in the event and in the medals table. From tomorrow, the Azzurri will be hunting for medals in artistic gymnastics and karate. The Oran Games are officially open.