The winning mascot was designed by schoolchild Aleix Girona, who was one of 10 finalists in a competition which attracted more than 10,000 children from 84 schools in the Catalonia region.

His design was adapted slightly by Jean Jullien, a French graphic designer and illustrator, to incorporate a Roman flavour.

Tarracus also depicts the flag of Tarragona, the capital of the Tarragona Province, and he serves as a reminder of the area's Roman heritage.

Many ancient ruins remain from its time as Tarraco, under the Romans, and the city also has a 2nd Century arena, which faces the Mediterranean Sea, called the Amfiteatre Romà.

The mascot was officially unveiled at the European Olympic Committees (EOC) Seminar in Tarragona earlier this month.

A special ceremony was held at the Teatre Tarragona and was attended by EOC President Patrick Hickey, President of the Spanish Olympic Committee Alejandro Blanco and Amar Addadi, the President of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG).

It began with an iconic song from the region, entitled “Song of the Birds’ by Pablo Casals, a famous conductor and cellist from Catalonia.

Tarragona was selected as host of the Games in 2011, fending off competition from Alexandria in Egypt.

The Games will therefore be held in Spain for a third time, after Barcelona staged the event in 1955 before Almeria's hosting in 2005.

Mersin in Turkey last hosted the quadrennial event in 2013, with Oran in Algeria already selected as 2021 host.

The International Committee of Mediterranean Games organise the event, with the Tarragona edition due to be the 18th staging.

Tarragona 2017 is scheduled to be held from June 30 to July 9.