The Spanish Olympic Committee has welcomed an Italian delegation ©COE

The Spanish Olympic Committee (COE) has welcomed a party from Italy ahead of next year's Mediterranean Games in Tarragona.

COE secretary general Victor Sanchez travelled from Madrid to the Catalonian venue to welcome the small delegation.

A site visit was held, with the Games due to be held between June 30 and July 9 next year.

In preparation for the Games, Tarragona, which has been described as "the capital of the Golden Riviera" will also host the 38th technical meeting of the European Olympic Committees on May 20 and 21.

Alejandro Blanco, the COE President, offered the coastal resort as the venue to allow delegations from all 50 European NOCs the chance to inspect Mediterranean Games venues and to see how preparations are progressing.

King Felipe VI of Spain has backed the Mediterranean Games
King Felipe VI of Spain has backed the Mediterranean Games ©Getty Images

The Mediterranean Games Organising Committee, chaired by Josep Fèlix Ballesteros, has promised its full support for the success of the European Seminar.

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 18th staging.