At the Electoral General Assembly of the International Committee of Mediterranean Games (ICMG), held in Taranto ahead of the Opening Ceremony of the 20th Mediterranean Games, Maja Peković, Deputy Secretary General and Head of International Relations at NOC Montenegro, was elected as a member of the ICMG Executive Committee for the 2026–2030 term.
With Peković’s election, Montenegro will have a representative on the Executive Committee of this organisation for the first time. The ICMG brings together 26 National Olympic Committees from the Mediterranean basin.
The Assembly elected a total of seven members of the Executive Committee. Francesco Purromuto was elected President of the ICMG, while Iakovos Filippousis was re-elected as Secretary General.
Peković’s election is the result of many years of work within ICMG bodies. During two terms on the Solidarity, Culture and Education Commission, she contributed to the development of the Mediterranean Young Ambassadors programme, which will begin implementation at the Games in Taranto through a pilot project for the African continent. The programme is designed as a long-term platform to empower young leaders and engage them in promoting the values of the Mediterranean Games.
Peković was also appointed as the ICMG Safeguarding Focal Point for the Mediterranean Games Taranto 2026, in which capacity she developed the safeguarding framework for the Mediterranean Games. It is the first document of its kind in the history of the Games, defining responsibilities, procedures and accountability during and after the Games, with implementation beginning in Taranto.
“This recognition belongs to the entire team at NOC Montenegro and to the sports system that, in recent years, has built credibility in areas where the Mediterranean family is seeking solutions, above all in athlete safeguarding and youth engagement. During the next term, I will work to ensure that these solutions are applicable and sustainable for all members, regardless of their size and resources,” Peković said following her election.
Membership of the Executive Committee gives Montenegro a stronger opportunity to participate in shaping development programmes, the calendar and strategic priorities of the Mediterranean Games, as well as a stronger position in international sports cooperation.
The 20th Mediterranean Games will be held in Taranto from 21 August to 3 September 2026. Ahead of the Opening Ceremony, the Montenegrin flag was raised yesterday alongside the flags of the participating countries. The flag-raising symbolically marked the arrival of Team Montenegro and the start of another shared sporting journey under Montenegro’s colours.
PHOTO & VIDEO gallery – Team MNE @ Taranto 2026 – https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD2GR8
