The first group of athletes forming part of the contingent left Malta on Monday on their way to Andorra to start their final preparations for the Games of the European Small States being held there next week.

Those who travelled on Monday included the table-tennis players and tennis players. They are accompanied by some officials.

The rest of the contingent will be leaving today and this will include the athletes, cyclists, judokas, the shooters and the swimmers.

The rest of the contingent which includes the taekwondo athletes, basketball women's squad and some other officials, including the MOC President Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco and the general secretary Joe Cassar, are to travel to Andorra on Sunday.

Chef de Mission Pippo Psaila and assistant Marie Therese Zammit were the first to travel to Andorra last Sunday to prepare for the arrival of the athletes and officials, most of whom will be staying at the Fenix Hotel.

Usually the contingent travels as one whole group, but this time round, the MOC has decided to take some of the athletes for a pre-camp and to get acclimatised to the high altitude as Andorra is right in the heart of the Pyrenees Mountains.

The Games will get under way on Monday 30 May in the evening with the Opening Ceremony. Competitions kick off on Tuesday 31 May as can be seen in the schedule (below).