Official papers were signed earlier this month to create then Organising Committee, with the flag of the Mediterranean Games also hoisted at Taranto City Hall.

"I thank the President of the Puglia Region Michele Emiliano for his trust," Cito said in response to his appointment.

"I am particularly happy to be able to give my contribution to Puglia, my region of origin, and to the Mayor of Taranto, Rinaldo Melucci, so that the edition of the Taranto Games 2026 remain in the history of sport in our country."

Cito became FITA President in 2016, receiving a landslide 98 per cent of the vote to succeed the late Park Sun Jae, the pioneer of taekwondo in Italy.

A year later, Cito was appointed to World Taekwondo Council.

Cito is additionally a World Taekwondo Europe vice-president.

The Italian has considerable experience when it comes to organising events.

Prior to becoming FITA President, Cito helped to organise a number of taekwondo contests in Italy, including the European Championships in Palermo in 2005, Rome in 2008 and Genoa in 2011.

He was later President of the Organising Committee for the G4 Extra European Taekwondo Championships in Bari in 2019, and also chaired the Supervisory Board for the Baku 2015 European Games.

The year 2026 promise to be a banner one for sport in Italy, with Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo also scheduled to host the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.