Team Malta athletes and officials who were present in Beijing for the 29th Olympiad were guests of H.E. and Mrs. Chai Xi, Ambassador in Malta for the People’s Republic of China during a welcome back dinner hosted at the Chinese Embassy in St. Julian’s.
Mr Chai Xi congratulated Team Malta for the results obtained in Beijing and in particular to the fact that Maltese athletes obtained the best ever results in Olympic Games.
He was pleased to note that Team Malta members integrated very well in a different environment as the one in Beijing was, and he was sure that the experience obtained will be of help for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
On behalf of the athletes, Marcon Bezzina, flag-bearer of Team Malta during the Games, gave her views on the experience obtained and thanked Mr Chai Xi for all the support given to her and to her colleagues.
Those present were also addressed by Julian Pace Bonello, who was Chef de Mission for Team Malta in Beijing. He stressed that “The Games were fantastic in an experience which we will never forget”.
Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, President of the Maltese Olympic Committee, had words of praise for Team Malta’s professional commitment in Beijing which was the result of the positive results obtained. The MOC President thanked HE Chai Xi for the constant support and hospitality he has shown towards Team Malta. On behalf of the Maltese Olympic Committee, Farrugia Sacco presented HE Chai Xi with a memento.
Also present for the activity was Mr Clyde Puli, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport who during the Games had first hand experience when he followed Team Malta athletes during the commitments.
On addressing those present Mr Puli promised all possible support in as much as preparation of local athletes will be at best in order that further and better results will be obtained in the immediate future.
Youngster recounts his Olympic Youth Camp adventure
Living the Panda dream
The adventure to live the Panda dream began after a free and fresh beverage from the airport’s VIP lounge. After boarding in the large Emirates plane Nicole Cremona (the other camper) and I had to decide how to spend all that time in the plane. Frankly games and movies were available and they had to be used!
Many people say that blond people are intellectually challenged, but during some checker games Nicole proved that she does not lack her IQ since she beat me several times; but at least not in martial arts (my sport).
To learn more about Chinese traditions we were taken to Mei LanFang to see a Peking Opera which had a lot of combat including singing and dancing. The Kung Fu Panda dream was getting true.
The opportunity to learn a new instrument came when I got to know Shao Heng. The traditional Chinese instrument is called Guzheng, and according to her I learned faster than she did. Since many of my new friends are Chinese and they speak Chinese all the time, I decided to practise a language absorption technique to learn this “strange” language. It worked because I amazed the Chinese with excellent pronunciation. Arabic was on the list to learn too.
To welcome the Olympic torch in our camp, we were invited to wear our traditional cloths. This was an opportunity to take a lot of photos! After burning fire comes burning spirit in Beijing’s National Stadium also called the Bird’s Nest. From the steel bars which form the Nest to the last performance, it was very amazing. Considering the people in the nest and those who watched it on TV, the Olympic Logo One World, One Dream was fulfilled.
Watching the games was also on our programme. I had the opportunity to watch Artistic Gymnastics in the national indoor stadium, Basketball (USA vs China, where the Americans won) on TV; at least in China, athletics in the Nest (where a part of team No 3 got lost, including me) and Judo (when Marcon competed) in the USTB gymnasium; where I met Ge Yiwen and became good friends (her English name is Isabella).
Getting to know important persons might come useful, so I went on a quest in the name of science, to meet new people. I managed to make friends with three presenters: Yin Xin, Leo Derrick (who is also a beat boxer) and Isabella (she also sings, dances, acts...). I also had the opportunity to meet the prince of Chad. The mission to meet people from different countries was also accomplished.
On my birthday, we visited the Olympic Village; where the inspiration to start training for shooting came by. The Olympic spirit told me that I have to beat the current record of 190 points in the double trap set by Walton Eller from the US. While eating pizza in the village’s cafeteria I met the Polish coaches and physiotherapists.
For those campers whose birthday was from 2 till 18 August we had a “surprise” birthday party. I will remember it forever! For food we had an international cuisine which was good. But our last meals were Beijing Roasted Duck and McDonald’s.
I was invited to join a Chinese traditional play and happily accepted. We practised the play in our limited time (mostly at night) and performed it the day after. Since I was acting the part of the mayor’s son, I had to wear traditional clothes (not mine) and used a staff to show off my kung fu skills.
I spent most of my free time fooling around with my roommates: Pedro from El Salvador (Taekwondo), Ramon from Jamaica (Swimming), and Eric from Tajikistan (Wrestler). We were almost all fighters! I also watched National Treasure 2 – half in Chinese and a bit in English.
To protect nature for a better world, we planted a tree and made a promise with Pedro to meet again in five years time in front of our tree. We also climbed the Great Wall of China. While on the top of the Small wall, I learned an old Chinese saying: Bu Dao Chang Cheng Fei Hao Han, which means, you are not a hero if you do not climb the Great wall.
I am going to miss all of my new friends, but we are still making contact by email and on Facebook. When going back to the airport I made friends with the guys from Dubai (Mohamed and Talal) and got offered free drink because of Nicole. I also had to temporarily “marry” Nicole since she was 5kg overweight from her luggage and divided the weight between us; because she was going to pay 2500 RMB for the extra 5kg.
Finally I would like to thank Marco Polo for discovering China and the MOC for sending us to China. Without them it would have been impossible.
NORBERT BONNICI
MSSF junior shooters to participate in Youth Commonwealth
Games Pune 2008
The Malta Shooting Sport Federation welcomed the news that the four junior shooters that were nominated for the Youth Commonwealth Games Pune 2008 were all chosen by The Malta Olympic Committee.
The eligible shooters had to be between 15 and 18 years of age; therefore the MSSF nominated Clive Farrugia in Skeet shooting, Ryan Bugeja in Trap shooting, Derek Bonanno in Double Trap shooting, and Charlot Chircop in 10m Air Rifle Shooting.
The MSSF Pro Edwin Vella is coordinating their training programmes with their respective coaches and the MOC and shall be assisting the junior shooters through the games.
Skeet shooter Clive Farrugia is synonymous in his discipline. He is under the supervision of his coach Steve Mock. Although Clive is still 17 years old, he had many shooting overseas encounters.
His first medal was in Venice in the junior European Grand Prix, where in 2005 he won the gold in the Under 14 category. He continued to improve his performance and won many local competitions.
He took part in Junior European Grand Prix every year and even made it to some barrage finals. This year he reached impressive levels when he managed 115/125 in the European Championships in Cyprus. 115/125 is considered an ISSF MQS. To prepare for the Youth Commonwealth Games, Clive, assisted by his coach Steve Mock is training skeet every Wednesday and every Friday.
On weekends he participates in local competitions so that he can practise barrage finals and shoot offs. In the last week of September he will be taking part in the European Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Gibraltar.
Ryan Bugeja is also one of the best junior trap shooters on the island. Ryan took part in The European Junior Grand Prix in these last three years and in 2007 he won the best foreign Trap shooter award in Venice. Ryan won many competitions in Bidnija, Hal-Far and in Qormi where he trains every Tuesday and every Thursday. He participates in competitions every weekend.
Ryan has been under the supervision of his coach George Micallef and lately Frans Pace was helping him since George was indisposed.
Last weekend Ryan managed 114/125 in the Southern Club Trap Grand Prix which is also an ISSF MQS.
Junior Double Trap shooter Derek Bonanno is achieving good results in his training sessions under the supervision of his coach Jimmy Bugeja.
Derek, William Chetcuti’s nephew is always around whenever double trap is being practised. He has been practising his discipline for a few years now.
His participation in The MSSF Centenary Shoot last February gave him the opportunity to shoot besides William as well as world renowned shooters Richard Faulds and Steve Scott. All three of them took part in Beijing Olympics in Double Trap.
Derek is training three times a week together with Jimmy and he shoots for 100 targets in every session.
The Youth Commonwealth Games in Pune will be the first overseas encounter for Bonanno.
Charlot Chircop is also preparing for the games in Pune. His shooting discipline is 10m Air Rifle.
Charlo is taking shooting very seriously and he embarked on an intensive training programme with his coach, Lawrence Darmanin, who is leading him in a training programme that practically is occupying him seven days a week.
Charlot is training at the MSSF 10m range in Bidnija, in commercial ranges and also at his residence where, with the assistance of the riga trainer system, he can train without loading his weapon and correct his aiming with this computerised system. He is showing very good progress and the results are improving considerably.
Charlo is also joining other MSSF shooters and his coach to participate in the European Commonwealth Shooting Championships in Gibraltar during the last week of September.
MSSF PRO Edwin Vella