A record 224 medals at home
Italy won 224 medals at its own Mediterranean Games. The old national record was 193. Here is the rest of the Italian week.
THE GAMES. Taranto hosted the 20th Mediterranean Games from 21 August to 3 September, in Puglia, the region at Italy's heel. Italy finished on 74 golds, 78 silvers and 72 bronzes, 224 in all, against 193 at Bari in 1997. Turkey was second with 41 golds and 111 medals, Greece third with 26 and 71. Twenty six countries took part. Taranto built no athletes' village: the competitors slept on a cruise ship and a ferry docked inside a naval base.
THE FORECAST. Istat, the national statistics office, published new population projections on 31 August. In the middle scenario the country goes from 58.9 million residents at the start of 2025 to 58.7 in 2030, 55.0 in 2050 and 45.8 in 2080. That is more than 13 million fewer in 55 years. Istat says migration stays positive but never covers the gap between births and deaths.
PRICES. Inflation reached 3.3 percent in August, from 2.9 in July, on provisional Istat figures. Unregulated energy prices went from 11.4 to 16.9 percent over the year, regulated ones from 14.8 to 18.8. Core inflation, which leaves out energy and fresh food, fell from 1.6 to 1.5.
VENICE. The 83rd festival opened on the Lido on 2 September with Ink, Danny Boyle's film about Rupert Murdoch buying The Sun, and runs to 12 September. Maggie Gyllenhaal chairs the jury. George Clooney and Ellen Burstyn each get a Golden Lion for lifetime achievement.
ALSO. Meloni's government passed the Republic's longevity record on Friday. South Tyrol started free contraception for 14 to 25 year olds on 1 September. Checks on arrivals from Spain were extended by fifteen days. Serie A played round two.
NEXT. Monza on Sunday at 15:00. The Golden Lion on 12 September. A national rail strike from 21:18 Monday to 21:00 Tuesday.
Taranto 2026 medal standings; Istat; La Biennale di Venezia; Formula 1; Gruppo FS.
