A key decree has been signed which approves the second phase of funding for the infrastructure works needed to host the 20th edition of the Mediterranean Games. Prominent among the planned investments is the full roofing of the Via del Mare stadium, a dream come true for the Lecce authorities.

Groundbreaking decisions for Lecce

Lecce city authorities can breathe a sigh of relief - the financing for the complete roofing of Stadio Ettore Giardiniero on Via del Mare has been officially approved. The regulation, which was signed at the beginning of August, represents a decisive step towards the modernisation of the stadium, which only a few days ago seemed only a distant dream for Lecce Mayor Saverio Sticchi Damiani.

This landmark act was carried out by the Minister for European Affairs and the National Reform Programme, Raffaele Fitto, with the support of the Minister for Sport and Youth, Andrea Abodi, and the Minister for Economy and Finance, Giancarlo Giorgetti. Cooperation with the Puglia region has further strengthened this initiative. This decision follows on from earlier actions, when the first decree funding investments worth €168 million was approved on April 16. Today, further funds have been added to these, providing a total of €107 million for the organisation of the Mediterranean Games.

© Robert Saganowski, Stadiony.net

Making dreams come true

Via del Mare, will undergo a major upgrade, which includes a complete roofing. As part of the second tranche of funding, the city will receive an additional €25 million, which, together with the previously approved €11 million, adds up to an impressive sum for the modernisation of the venue. The Lecce authorities, led by club president Sticchi Damiani, had been pushing for this investment for years.

The Lecce president, commenting on the decision, did not hide his joy: From the beginning, I had hoped that the Mediterranean Games would be the occasion for a profound upgrade of the Via del Mare. Thanks to the efforts of all the institutions, we have achieved a spectacular result that will allow us to have a state-of-the-art facility and to host a prestigious international sporting event.

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Key government support and institutional collaboration

Particularly noteworthy was the role played by the government and regional institutions in securing adequate funding. Minister Raffaele Fitto stressed that the government gave the impetus for the work by appointing an extraordinary commissioner for infrastructure works, and then honoured its commitment to allocate the necessary funds. This gives Lecce the chance not only to upgrade its main stadium, but also to fully exploit the potential of hosting the Mediterranean Games.

No less enthusiastic is the Mayor of Lecce, Adriana Poli Bortone, who noted that without the intervention of Minister Fitto, the city could not have counted on such significant funding. The mayor stressed that the cooperation between the city administration and the national government has produced tangible results that will allow Lecce to fully exploit its potential in the field of sport and tourism.

Fans and clubs have long cherished the dream of achieving the goal of roofing the stadium, and now, thanks to the work of the Meloni government, Minister Fitto and the extraordinary commissioner for the 2026 Mediterranean Games, Ferrarese, this hope can become a reality said the deputy of the Fratelli d'Italia in Lecce, Saverio Congedo.

© Robert Saganowski, Stadiony.net