(MENAFN) The countdown has officially started for the 20th Mediterranean Games, with just 365 days remaining until the event kicks off in Italy, according to reports.

To mark the one-year milestone, a countdown clock was unveiled in Taranto, signaling the year-long wait until the opening ceremony. The unveiling took place outside the city hall and was attended by several prominent figures.

Those present included Massimo Ferrarese, special commissioner and president of the Organizing Committee; Davide Tizzano, president of the International Committee; and Taranto Mayor Piero Bitetti.

Ferrarese described the clock as "a symbol of collective commitment — of a community, a territory, and a great Mediterranean family that believes in sport as a force that unites, inspires, and builds."

He added, "The Games will also be held in other parts of Puglia. It's therefore a moment of joy for our region. What I ask of the citizens and all the institutions is: give us a hand. It took seven years to do all this. We have to do it in two and a half years, since we started, and that's an exceptional thing."

Highlighting the scale of the preparations, Ferrarese noted that 41 construction sites across 21 municipalities are involved, emphasizing the challenge of completing so much within a limited timeframe.

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