The former president of the European Handball Court of Arbitration (ECA), Francesco Purromuto, has been elected president of the International Committee of the Mediterranean Games (ICMG).

The Italian-born lawyer and university professor Purromuto had a long career in international handball, being the president of the Italian Handball Federation from 1997 to 2017 and the president of the ECA from 2016 to 2021.

As head of the Mediterranean Handball Confederation, he oversaw 35 men's and women's championships

Purromuto was elected on Thursday last week (20 August) at the general assembly of the ICMG. In his address to the assembly he said: "I am honoured to have become president of this great organisation. I would like to reiterate my gratitude to the ICMG, and especially to CONI (ed. the Italian National Olympic Committee), [CONI] president Buonfiglio and secretary general Carlo Mornati."

He then, according to ‘Inside the Games’ pledged “commitment, passion and dedication" and underlined that the autonomy of sport "is not a privilege, it is a responsibility.”

Purromuto has been elected for the period 2026 to 2030.