HENRY BRINCAT

Malta Olympic Committee president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco referred to Malta’s great success in last week’s Games in Andorra as ‘another page written in golden letters in the history of Maltese sport.’

He said it was a very enjoyable week in Andorra highlighted by the results of the Maltese athletes who surpassed themselves throughout the five days of competition. “The results were even better than our forecasts. And this was simply because of the determination and commitment of the athletes despite the uncertainty in the months leading to the Games where the situation, especially at the start of the year, was not very encouraging. But we have worked professionally. We knew that our athletes were capable. We knew what we were saying when we made our predictions where we even matched the colour of the medals in some cases,” he said.

The MOC president thanked everyone saying: “All the athletes, the officials and even those we left behind. We all worked together for this success. But I must make special reference to the swimming gold medal – the first ever in the discipline for Malta. Now we have broken that taboo, I simply hope it is the start of a new era. Even in cycling, we had the first Maltese cyclist winning a medal. But it was not these two disciplines only. All the others gave their valid contribution towards this magnificent success,” he stated.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco praised Pippo Psaila for creating that excellent atmosphere among the whole contingent. And referring to the foreign element in the Games, the MOC president said: “This question crops up every time. We only had six foreigners in our contingent. The others had about 60. If they are prepared to leave them out, we would reciprocate,” he argued.

Farrugia Sacco added: “We have been achieving success after success since the 1997 Games in Reykjavik, Iceland. And these included the medals won at the Mediterranean Games in France and Italy not to mention the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, England. All this shows that it was not just a coincidence that we won 37 medals in Andorra last week. It also confirmed that the way we work produces satisfying results. We left no stone unturned.

“I wish we were in a position to give the athletes a financial bonus. They deserve it, but the MOC simply does not have the funds available at present with the Med. Games in Almeria looming ahead.

“We now have to concentrate on these Games. The Andorra chapter is over and all that remains is a study to see what went wrong to correct it so that the success in future would be even greater,” he stated.

Earlier, MOC general secretary Joe Cassar gave some information about the Monaco Games to be held in two years time.

He said that all athletes and officials will be accommodated on board a ship and ascertained everyone there would be no sea-sickness problems whatsoever.

He revealed that the disciplines to be contested in Monaco will be athletics, basketball (men), bowls, gymnastics, judo, swimming, tennis, table-tennis, shooting (air rifle and air pistol), sailing and volleyball.

While confirming there will be no Trap and Double Trap in shooting, he said beach volleyball was still being considered and if it was to be accepted, that it had to be instead of women’s volleyball.

He also thanked everyone especially the MOC’s sponsors, for their support.