With the Maltese contingent for the Commonwealth Games departing next Wednesday, the Malta Olympic Committee is very confident that the athletes it has selected to represent the country will rise to the occasion.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, President, and Director of Sport Pippo Psaila, both appeared to be very confident yesterday as they addressed the press for the last time before the contingent’s departure for Melbourne where the Games are to be staged between March 15 and 26.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco announced that young shooter William Chetcuti had again been selected by the executive committee of the MOC to be Malta’s flag bearer at these Games. “He is recognised as Malta’s best athlete at present and he is our main hope in Melbourne, although we are confident that all the members forming part of the contingent will obtain good and positive results,” he said.

Chetcuti had also been selected as Malta’s flag bearer at the Andorra Games for European Small States last summer.

The President said he was sure the local athletes and the Maltese athletes residing in Australia, selected to represent the country, have prepared themselves in a professional way, adding that they were all eager to compete.

He added that he was also highly impressed with the professional training given to the shooters, for example, while he was on a visit to the Bidnija ranges earlier this week.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco added that the levels of the Games have gone up considerably. “Let us not forget that athletes from the world’s top sporting nations, including England, Australia, Canada, Pakistan, India and some of the larger African countries form the backbone of the number of athletes taking part in such an event where, in the past, some world records, have also been set or established,” he added.

The MOC president also stressed on the fact that all athletes representing the country were all Maltese, even those residing in Australia. “They all have Maltese citizenship. It is not fair for anyone to label them as foreigners,” he added.

The President concluded by saying that the Maltese contingent was one big family. “We all pull the same rope together. The atmosphere which reigns is such that I am sure they will all be supporting each other during our stay in Melbourne.”

On his part, Psaila said there was practically no change since the last news conference when the contingent had been announced. “There has been only one change - in the women’s basketball squad - where Lucienne Bezzina will be taking the place of Greta Zarb,” he said.

The MOC Director of Sport emphasised that the objectives of the MOC had also remained the same. “Our main aim is to see our performance improving over that of Manchester four years ago. And that means the colour and the number of medals. We also feel that it is an honour for the athletes to have been selected to form part of the contingent. In return we expect them to do their best in their own name, that of their federations who nominated them and the communities of Maltese locally and in Australia,” he added.

Psaila also said he was sure that the athletes will rise to the occasion. “We are confident that these Games will be a success. We know that we have a group of well prepared athletes and they are all eager to start competing.

“At present, it is the moment where doubts spring in some people’s minds. On the contrary, the MOC’s message is one of courage. We know that our athletes are talented, otherwise they would not have been selected. That is why we are confident they will make it in Melbourne. At present, they just have to remain focused on the event. There is nothing else to do,” he said.

Psaila concluded: “We are now looking forward towards our participation in these Games. We all expect it to be another major step forward towards the road of success which we started in the mid-1990s.”

Earlier, MOC general secretary Joe Cassar informed the press of a number of meetings which the MOC officials will be attending during the duration of the Games in Melbourne.

Among them is the general meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation where the Delhi Games (archery, billiards and snooker are being proposed as new additions to the sports disciplines to be contested) are to be discussed at length. Also there will be the vote to award the 2014 Games for which Scotland and Nigeria have made a bid.

Officials confirm MOC expectations

Some of the officials who attended the press conference made their own comments, as follows:

Liz Said, Malta Squash president: “It is the first time that we are taking part in the Commonwealth Games. It is an honour for us as well as for our lonely competitor, Joe Desira, who had won gold for Malta in the 2003 Small Nations Games, to be taking part in this edition.”

Saviour Portelli, Shooting Federation president: “We have been at several Games in the past and we did well in Canada (1994) and Malaysia (1998) before the big boost in Manchester (2002) where William Chetcuti won the bronze medal. I hope that our experience turns into a better performance this time thanks also to the coaching expertise of Jimmy Bugeja.”

Istvan Kormos, Swimming coach: “We are hoping for the best. Angela has been prepared well. After the medal at the Small Nations Games, we are now hoping for a new national record. That is what she is aspiring for at these Games.”

Alex Anastasi, Table-Tennis coach: “This is our first Commonwealth Games experience, but in the Gerada brothers, especially Simon, we know that we have two able players. Simon hates to lose and on his day, he can get among the medal placings.”

John Zammit, cycling: “We have one of our strongest ever squads which includes David Treacey and Nick Formosa, as well as Stephania Magri, all residing abroad. Together with coach and cyclist Jack Schiavone and Etienne Bonello, we are expecting to cut a good figure.”

Marie Therese Zammit, Lawn Bowls secretary: “We are taking part in the singles, doubles and triples events with six athletes, two of whom, Sean Parnis and Francis Vella, have reached top levels and won several honours. I am impressed with their patriotism. They are simply eager and looking forward to joining the Maltese contingent.”