Padel's Olympic Dream Starts in Taranto

Five days from now, padel walks onto its biggest stage yet.

From August 22 to 28, the Mediterranean Games in Taranto, Italy will host padel's first-ever appearance. Eighty-eight athletes from 18 nations. Three medal events: men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles. Purpose-built courts at Parco del Mediterraneo Salinella.

This is not a showcase or exhibition. These are real medals, real national teams, and real Olympic pathway implications.

Spain is sending a squad designed to dominate. Former world #1s Lucía Sainz and Patty Llaguno lead the women's side. Rising star David Gala — world #33, born in 2006, European Games gold medallist in Krakow 2023 — leads the men alongside Pol Hernández and Guille Collado.

Italy will have the crowd. Carolina Orsi (world #31), breakout star Giulia Dal Pozzo (world #30, just 21), and Marco Cassetta carry the home nation's hopes. Portugal and France are genuine medal threats, with the Araujo and Deus siblings headlining the Portuguese squad.

Then there is the bigger picture. The FIP laid it out plainly this week: Taranto is not a standalone moment. It is stop one of five multi-sport games appearances in the next 16 months. After Italy come four more stops. South American Games in Santa Fe (September). Asian Games in Nagoya (September–October). Asian Indoor Games in Riyadh (December). European Games in Istanbul (2027).

In June 2026, the IOC changed its charter. Individual disciplines — not entire sports — will be evaluated for Olympic inclusion from Brisbane 2032. Padel now has a direct pathway and five multi-sport stages to prove it belongs.

Source: Padel FIP — Padel makes its debut at the Mediterranean Games, Padel FIP — Padel travels in the medal zone