MOC president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco is confident that Team Malta will obtain good results in the Liechtenstein Games which get under way tomorrow. In an interview with Henry Brincat he explained that it was important for Malta to keep up the good work of the past years although there are several factors which may lead to fewer medals this time round.
Maltese Olympic Committee president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco seemed pretty confident the past week as he explained how well prepared are the athletes comprising Team Malta in Liechtenstein.
He said he thinks that this is possibly the first time that the athletes have been well prepared, both mentally and physically. “I can assure everyone that our athletes are in the right frame of mind. Judging from recent results, it is evident that they have peaked at the right moment and this is why we are confident that they will be obtaining some good results.
“This does not necessarily mean the winning of medals, although I believe there are quite a number of possibilities in all the three colours. However, I will also be very satisfied if our athletes, especially in athletes and swimming, establish new national records or register personal bests,” he added.
Farrugia Sacco was asked why he was so unhappy with the number of foreigners in most of the contingents, something non-existent in the past. He said: “It was the principal problem the GSSE Federation faced during the past two years. “At one time I almost threatened to withdraw Malta from the organisation when one official proposed that Maltese athletes with dual nationality should not be allowed to take part. However, they still wanted to include athletes from nearby territories to represent them. That certainly not only did not make sense, but it was illegal. It was only after some very heated arguments that common sense finally prevailed,” he added.
The MOC president said there are three factors which might influence Malta’s results at these Games. He said: “The number of foreigners, the lack of shooting, sailing and basketball and the inclusion of Montenegro as the ninth member state of these Games, will all influence our results.
“I have already emphasised the fact that the scope of these Games has been lost with the introduction of the foreigners some years ago. Now, there will be an enormous number this year with the already strong Cyprus squad including 15 among their ranks. There is also Monaco who enlisted 93 foreigners in their long list, although I do not know how many they have retained among those actually taking part.
“The lack of shooting (clay pigeon), basketball and sailing at these Games will definitely influence our chances. In Cyprus we obtained three gold, two silver and one bronze medal in these three disciplines. I do not know why shooting and basketball have been withdrawn from these Games though I understand that sailing was impossible to be held. Yet this was Liechtenstein’s decision in their selection of disciplines and we accept it. We are well aware that with the exception of swimming and athletics, which are compulsory, the choice of the other disciplines is always in the hands of the Organising Committee.
“The addition of Montenegro will certainly enhance the Games. Everyone knows that they will be strong in several aspects and will get stronger in future when they start fielding a full squad,” he said.
Farrugia Sacco also spoke about David Millar’s case. “As is well known, we had his acceptance to ride again for Malta in the cycling time-trial. We had reached agreement with Lord Colin Moynihan, President of the British Olympic Association. Yet it seems as if the Scottish Commonwealth Games Federation found an objection in the sense that they feared me might poach him from under their noses for the Commonwealth Games in Scotland in 2014. We certainly do not have that intention. We just need Millar for the GSSE and we certainly wish to make use of his services. Now that we have settled the issue with the BOA and the Commonwealth Games Federation, it all depends on whether the cyclist is ready to come and represent Malta in Liechtenstein. Let us not forget that he has a Maltese nationality having been born in Malta and was a resident here with his parents for four months,” said Farrugia Sacco.
Asked about the three foreigners in our contingent, Farrugia Sacco said: “They seem to be good and hope they will do well although the trio will be making their debut in these Games.”
He also commented on the future of these Games, saying that he felt there was still room for improvement for reasons already mentioned above. He said it was not good for the participating nations to think about the number of medals to be won. We also wish to win as many medals as possible, but our first priority has always been and will always be the development of our local talented athletes. I believe that if we do not put our feet on the brake, especially in the issue of the number of foreigners, then it would be the beginning of the end for these Games. Here I would like to see the classification at the end of the Liechtensein Games without the foreigners. That would certainly be interesting.
“However, there are also the positives. For example, Team Malta is prepared more than ever before, although the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Our athletes seem to be more tranquil on the eve of this edition, though they are very determined and placid. But I cannot say what will really happen,” he added.
As part of the GSSE Federation Executive Committee, Farrugia Sacco took part in several discussions leading to the Games. He said the Games are now under the European Olympic Committees programme and that means that they always get a mention among all European nations. “In the past we used to get financial aid from the IOC. Now it is the EOC which provides a handsome sum to the organising country and a much smaller sum distributed among the remaining participants. However, the organisation of the Games is still the responsibility of the GSSE. The role of the EOC is that of fatherly influence rather than indulging in active participation,” he added.
Farrugia Sacco was asked to explain how he had involved himself, as president of the MOC, in the preparation of these Games. “The post of President brings with it a lot of responsibilities. It is like being a parent in a family which I would like to see moving forward with no fighting between my children. Of course, there will be some who get a bigger slice of the cake because there are those who need more than the others to get them back on track.
“I love all my children – there is no particular sector. They all fall under my responsibility. And when there is the need, I have to take the necessary steps to ensure smoothness, especially when there are some arguments,” he said.
Another thing which he thinks has helped him a lot during the past years since he was elected to the MOC in 1989 – eight years as deputy president and 14 leading the MOC – he made a good number of contacts and quite a large number of friends through the IOC, the EOC and the international federations. He added: “I feel that was a big advantage financially-wise as the MOC managed to obtain several scholarships and funds for its athletes and officials.”
Asked whether successful athletes in Liechtenstein, especially in the case of gold medallists, will be considered for the London 2012 Olympics, Farrugia Sacco was clear. “There is no guarantee of participation in the London Games for an y of those who win gold medals in Liechtenstein. They will have to qualify for the Olympics as William Chetcuti did recently to be able to automatically take part. If someone excels, then yes, why not, we will try, even if normally, participation for small countries as Malta is limited to just two athletes and two swimmers. The possibility is that we might have a token contingent of around six or maybe seven athletes,” he said.
Finally, the MOC president appealed to everyone to stand united in the quest for a successful participation in the Liechtenstein Games. “We have to help each other – MOC, athletes, officials and the media. If we pull the rope together, then I firmly believe that eventual victory will go to Malta and not to the individuals,” he concluded.