Malta’s Chef de Mission in the Andorra Games, Pippo Psaila, said yesterday “it is a nice day to be Maltese.”

He was referring to the results obtained by Maltese athletes at last week’s Games where Malta scooped 37 medals. The official haul consisted of seven gold, 13 silver and 17 bronze medals, though another bronze medal was later added to the women’s athletics team for their overall performance.

Psaila said this was undoubtedly the best performance by Malta in the history of the Games. “It has been absolutely satisfying, honourable and not surprising, considering that we knew beforehand that the potential of the athletes was there. When we selected the squad we had predicted that we would win seven gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals. We went a little better as there were some healthy surprises.

“The results have a bigger technical value this time because the five golds won in Malta in the sailing and squash disciplines two years ago, could never be added to this year’s amount. We also had the smallest contingent in 15 years and we did not take part in three disciplines, therefore having to do away with some more prospective medals. Had the others taken part in the events in which Malta participated, then we would have placed fourth.

“It was also an exceptionally good performance by all athletes. The throws, the running, cycling, shooting, all the disciplines in fact. They all did well despite the overall high level of the games. This was so high that Raschid Chouhal registered a better jump this year in gaining a silver medal than he had registered when he won the Long Jump in Malta two years ago. And yet, that earned him the gold medal,” said Psaila.

The Chef de Mission went on to say that the Maltese athletes simply confirmed they can improve if they are given the right support. “There must be continuity and progression. We did not train to compete. We trained to prepare to compete, and the result was truly outstanding. All this shows that we were justified in pressing on the Minimum Qualifying Standards. We are determined to remain on the same track. As for those who are not ready to prepare themselves in a professional manner, let me tell them straight away that there is no space for them in our family,” he remarked.

He went on to thank all the athletes and officials as well as the federations or associations for their support and cooperation. “They know I am a very demanding person and it is not easy for anyone to work with me. Yet they cooperated fully to an extent that today, I can say we showed absolute transparency as we had faith in each other’s abilities,” he added.

Psaila made a special reference to cycling coach Roy Chamberlain who, in just a few weeks, performed a sort of miracle in that camp. “It was a delight to work with him. He was simply a credit to the association and the whole Olympic team,” he said.

Near the end of his speech, Psaila asked: Where do we go from here? Replying to his own question, he said: “We cannot live on the past. We only have to look at the future. These Games should be considered as the launching pad to get better. We have to start working from today to prepare ourselves for Monaco in 2007. There cannot be any sabbaticals if we are to continue on the road to more success,’ he said.

Psaila also commented on the lack of funds, compared to what others receive for their preparations: “In the immediate future, there are the Mediterranean Games in Almeria, Spain. We have shown what we can do with what the government has handed to us. But I think Lm150,000 a year are simply not enough to finance the sports programmes. If we are given more I am sure we will reach higher levels and obtain more satisfying results.

“In Spain we are targeting one, or perhaps, two medals. It is definitely another challenge on a higher level than Andorra,” he concluded.