The COJI. (Comité d’Organisation des Jeux des Iles), or the Island Games, as they are generally referred to, are sporting events with an international character, that develop the Olympic spirit in youth and the fundamental principles of the “clean game”
These games were first held in Corsica in June 1997, and they have been held every year since.
This week, the 11th Island Games are again being held in Corsica and 23 islands will be participating in various disciplines. Malta first participated in 1998 and has since taken part in several of these games.
This year Malta will be represented in two sports – athletics and sailing.
The Maltese contingent will consist of Envic Galea as Chef de Mission, Andy Grech (100m and long jump) Stephanie Alden (triple jump), Valerie Farrugia, (athletics official), Sean Borg, Thomas Zammit Tabone and Gabriel Pace (boys sailing team), Ella Fleri Soler and Abigail Fenech (girls sailing team), Jean Paul Fleri Soler (coach) and Richard Fenech (team leader).
These games give young athletes up to the age of 16 the opportunity to represent their countries by competing in various sports.
In 2006, Malta took part in athletics, swimming, judo, gymnastics and sailing. All the athletes gave their utmost in the sweltering heat, with brilliant results. The athletics team clinched seven medals – two gold, one silver and four bronze.
The gold medals were won by the female relay team (4x400m) consisting of Francesca Xuereb, Martina Xuereb, Diane Pace, Dorianne Micallef; and Francesca Xuereb in the 400m female event.
The silver medal was won in the 4x100m relay female team with athletes Christabel Attard, Rebecca Sare, Francesca Xuereb and Martina Xuereb and the bronze medals winners were 200m female: Diane Borg, 400m female: Martina Xuereb, 400m male: Matthew Crocker and 800m female: Francesca Xuereb.
Our sailors once again walked away with four medals at these games. Ella Fleri Soler earned a silver medal for coming second and another silver for the girls’ team, when she teamed up with Louisa Manduca. Gabriel Pace won a bronze medal for third place and a silver for the boys’ team event, together with Sean Borg.
Last year a small contingent of swimmers participated for the first time and Talisa Pace managed a time of 2.18.32 to win a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle.
Last year also saw the participation of Maltese gymnasts. The boys team of Jeremy Saywell and Terence Gatt impressed with their performance, which was, however, an exhibition event.
The girls’ team also did well, with Sonia Schembri coming 4th in the vault and Roxanne Bonnici coming in 5th place in the bars.
* * * Athletes’ profiles
Name: Johanna Grech
Age: 39
Sport: Table Tennis
Started: 1978
Profession: Business Woman –
operations director for a group of companies in the fashion retail business
Club: Batman Table Tennis Club - Malta
Former Clubs:
Gruppo Sport Tennis Tavola Latina - Italy
Federazione Tennis Tavola Catania - Italy
Achievements:
Silver medal, Team Event European Mixed League 3rd Div-Guernsey 1983
Bronze medal, Team Event European Mixed League 3rd Div-Guernsey 1985
Bronze medal, Team Event European Mixed League 3rd Div-Iceland 1990
Silver medal, Team Event European Mixed League 3rd Div-Iceland 1992
Silver medal, Team Event European Mixed League 3rd Div-Malta 1994
Gold medal, Team Event European Mixed League 3rd Div- Guernsey 1995
Gold medal, Singles Event European Mixed League 3rd Div- Guernsey 1995
Gold medal, Ladies Doubles GSSE Iceland 1997
Silver medal, Ladies Team GSSE Iceland 1997
Silver medal, Ladies Doubles GSSE Liechtenstein 1999
Silver medal, Ladies Team GSSE Liechtenstein 1999
Bronze medal, Ladies Doubles GSSE San Marino 2001
Bronze medal, Ladies Team GSSE San Marino 2001
Other
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, 1983
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, 1985
Represented Malta at the World Championships in New Delhi, India, 1987
Represented Malta at the European Championships in Stuttgart, Germany, 1992
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden, 1993
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Tianjin, China, 1995
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Manchester, England, 1997
Represented Malta at the European Championships in Eindhoven, Holland, 1998
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Eindhoven, Holland, 1999
Represented Malta at the European Championships in Paris, France, 2001
Represented Malta at the World Championships in in Osaka, Japan, 2001
Represented Malta at the European Championships in Courmayeur, Italy, 2003
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Paris, France, 2003
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Bremen, Germany, 2006
* * *
Name: Simon Gerada
Age: 25
Sport: Table Tennis
Started: 1992
Job: Professional Table Tennis player
Achievements:
Silver medal, Men’s Singles GSSE San Marino 2001
Silver medal, Men’s Doubles GSSE Malta 2003
Bronze medal, Men’s Singles, GSSE Malta 2003
Gold medal, Men’s Singles, GSSE ANDORRA 2005
Gold medal, Men’s Team, GSSE ANDORRA 2005
Bronze medal, Men’s Doubles, GSSE ANDORRA 2005
Other
Represented Malta at the European Championships in Zagreb, 2003.
Represented Malta at the Olympic Games Qualification in Luxembourg, 2004
Represented Malta at the Commonwealth Championships Malaysia, 2004
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Doha Qatar, 2004
Represented Malta at the Austrian Pro Tour, 2004
Represented Malta at the Polish Pro Tour, 2004
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Shanghai, China, 2005
Represented Malta at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, 2006.
Represented Malta at the World Championships in Bremen Germany, 2006
Represented Malta at the Australian Open, 2006
Malta Olympic Committee Sports Awards: Gold Award (2005).
* * *
Name: Andrzej Makowski
Age: 25
Sport: Table Tennis
Started: 1991
Job: Graduated as a physical instructor specialising in Table Tennis.
Professional Table Tennis player
Achievements:
Gold medal, men’s team, GSSE Andorra, 2005
Silver medal, men’s singles, GSSE Andorra, 2005
Bronze medal, men’s doubles, GSSE Andorra, 2005
Other
Represented Malta at the Polish Pro Tour, 2006
Represented Malta at the German Pro Tour, 2007
Represented Malta at the Polish Pro Tour, 2007Name: Andrzej Makowski
Age: 25
Sport: Table Tennis
Started: 1991
Job: Graduated as a physical instructor specialising in Table Tennis.
Professional Table Tennis player
Achievements:
Gold medal, men’s team, GSSE Andorra, 2005
Silver medal, men’s singles, GSSE Andorra, 2005
Bronze medal, men’s doubles, GSSE Andorra, 2005
Other
Represented Malta at the Polish Pro Tour, 2006
Represented Malta at the German Pro Tour, 2007
Represented Malta at the Polish Pro Tour, 2007
* * *
MIA Olympic Special – What’s On
Thursday, 24 May on TVM at 5pm, Friday, 25 May on E22 at 9pm (RPT), Sunday, 27 May on E22 at 10am (RPT) and Monday, 28 May on E22 at 2.30pm (RPT) will feature the following:
GSSE Section – Archbishop meets GSSE athletes
An enthusiastic crowd greeted Archbishop Mgr Paul Cremona OP at the University Sports Complex on Wednesday, 16 May.
The athletes representing Malta in the forthcoming GSSE, together with officials from different MOC-affiliated organisations and the MOC, led by Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco, also participated in Mass. Angela Galea was chosen as Malta’s flag-bearer.
Featured Event – Volleyball
The finals of the men’s and ladies categories were held at the Cottonera Sports Complex during the weekend. Fleur de Lys crossed swords with Kerygma in the men’s section, whereas in the ladies’ final, Flyers played Paola Hibs Candy. Watch these exciting matches on this programme.
Highlighted Events – School visits by prominent athletes
GSSE athletes Carol Walsh and Diane Borg, together with Bertie Muscat and Mario Bonello, were special guests last week at St Benedict’s Boys’ Secondary College, Lorenzo Gafa School, Birgu and San Anton School, Mgarr. This activity formed part of the Shape Up Europe project. Students were given the opportunity to ask the athletes questions.
You can find out more about this event by watching MIA Olympic Special.
The schedule is available every week on www.nocmalta.org and in The Malta Independent every Tuesday.
Produced in collaboration with E22.
* * *
Sports Day with a difference – St Benedict’s College Sportsfest ’07
Following the success of Sportsfest’06, the students of St Benedict’s College Secondary School, along with their
parents and teachers, have taken part in SportsFest’07, which was held on 3 May.
Sportsfest entailed a series of physical and motivating activities, ranging from seminars, exhibitions and sporting activities, to a variety of ways in which healthy eating can be endorsed.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Maltese Olympic Committee and the Health Promotion Department.
During the week preceding SportsFest, a cross-curricular approach was adopted by all the teachers, with “sport” being the main theme around which lessons revolved. These lessons also promoted a healthy lifestyle.
The opening ceremony included the lighting of the “Olympic Torch” followed by a speech by the head of school J. Micallef. All the parents were invited to attend two seminars that were held on the day – the first one on the subject of healthy nutrition that was chaired by Mr S. Piscopo.
The second one, which tackled the important sociological aspects of children during physical activity, was presided over by sports psychologist Ms A. Muscat and guidance teacher Mr M. Cassar.
Demonstrations of baseball, chess, and table-tennis were held in at the school and basketball and swimming at Ta’ Qali to increase students’ awareness of the different physical activities in which they can become involved.
The aim was to instil in the students a sense of lifelong participation in sport. They also had the opportunity to practice skills under the guidance of Malta’s national basketball coach Mr Bruno Dipietrantonio, Mr S. Gauci who is the national juniors coach for the volleyball team and Mr Damian Neill, Maltese rugby team coach.
In addition, the students played soccer under the guidance of Mr. J. Mifsud, who forms part of the Maltese national team, and a penalty shootout enabled the students to test their scoring abilities against renowned goalkeepers Justin Haber and Ruben Debono.
Students tested their athletics skills by competing against Diane Borg and other top athletes, under the supervision of international athletics coach M. Farrugia.
In order to ensure a healthy and safe environment, a healthy lunch was prepared by the school’s Health Nutrition Team. Bottles of water and sun cream were distributed to all the students to protect them from the harmful effects of lengthy exposure to the sun. In addition, an ambulance was readily available on the school premises.
The highlight of the day was when the students met and talked to their sports idols, among whom were Olympian
athletes Mario Bonello (athletics), Carol Galea (athletics), Frans Pace (shooting) and Elite Aspirant Athlete Therese Mallia (athletics). These athletes, apart from forming part of Malta’s elite athletes, also assist the Maltese Olympic Committee’s initiative to involve its athletes in schools, as role models and a source of inspiration for Malta’s young people.
The athletes spoke about their personal experiences and how they became athletes and made it to the top. The message that these athletes convey to youngsters is that anyone can succeed, if they put their mind to it!
Going into schools, the athletes contribute to bringing about support for and awareness of what local athletes do and strengthening the message that sport is important. The MOC believes that these events advance and encourage the Olympic ideals in students and parents alike.
This activity would not have been successful without the hard work of the organisers, namely Mr R. Baldacchino and Mr J. Mifsud, as well as all the members of staff who helped throughout the day.
Special thanks go to St Benedict’s College Co-Ordinator Ms M. Sciortino, the Malta Health Promotion Department and the Maltese Olympic Committee, together with the sponsors: Sports Experience and Eurosport.
* * *Association News:
With just two weeks to go before the start of the XIIth Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE)in Monaco, the national Table Tennis team is in the final phase of its preparations for this important biennial event.
The contingent, composed of Simon Gerada, Andrzej Makowski, Johanna Grech and Yu Wang, together with German coach Tanja Hain-Hoffmann and official Alex Anastasi, will not only have the task in the men’s section of defending the two gold, one silver and one bronze, but is also aiming to improve on the level of medals won in Andorra. The ladies’ team, meanwhile, has the potential strength and attitude this year to increase the medals tally for Malta at these Games.
The final international commitment before the GSSE will be the Liebherr 2007 World Table Tennis Championships in Zagreb, Croatia, between 20 and 28 May.
In Monaco, Table Tennis will be played in the splendid Louis II Stadium starting on 4 June and ending on 9 June.
The following events will be held: Men’s Teams, Ladies Teams, Men’s Doubles, Ladies Doubles, Men’s Singles, Ladies Singles.
Table Tennis is a very popular sport in both France and Monaco, and therefore large crowds of spectators are expected for the home team at the Louis II Stadium.