In this interview, Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, president of the Maltese Olympic Committee, explains why the Games for European Small States, this year being held in Monaco between 5 and 9 June, are still very important for the country and its athletes, especially the up and coming youngsters. He recalls the improvement registered in the results since 1997 when the event was held in Reykjavik, Iceland, and says that despite the lack of shooting (trap, double trap and skeet), squash and women’s basketball, he was still confident that the contingent will obtain very good results. He spoke with HENRY BRINCAT about preparations and expectations for these Monaco Games.
Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco is convinced that Maltese athletes will perform admirably and obtain very good results at the forthcoming Games for European Small States in Monaco.
Malta’s contingent consists of 57 athletes and 17 officials, that is, a little smaller than it had been in Andorra two years ago when the Maltese scooped a haul of 38 medals, seven of which were gold, 13 silver and 18 bronze.
Said the MOC president: “We have made tremendous progress in the last decade. Sportswise we have reached certain levels. Already by 1995, a certain level of improvement had been reached, but we started showing better form and getting much better results since the 1997 edition in Iceland. Before that, I think we were somewhat weak and our athletes were demotivated. The 1997 edition proved to be our stepping stone. Since then we always achieved good results. Gone are the days when we used to be satisfied with having won six or seven medals. Today, 40 medals are part of us and that enough is proof of our improvement.
“Even in Monaco, I am sure of several positive results, despite the fact that we are deprived of a possible 10 medals because there will be no shooting (Trap, Double Trap and Skeet), Squash and women’s basketball. So, next to Andorra, we will be starting with -10 medals,” he said.
Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco went on to say that this does not mean that our athletes will be winning fewer medals this time. “We still have a strong squad of athletes. In gymnastics, for example, even if it is the first time we are taking part, we have been told that our youngsters might produce some surprises. The Italian expert thinks they will perform fairly well and so I am also hopeful in this sphere. We have to wait and see,” he added.
The MOC president was adamant that his Executive made no preferences in the selection of athletes for the Games. “All those who reached the Minimum Qualifying Standard (MQS) set by the MOC, had the right to take part, except, unfortunately, for Dr Angela Sammut in the athletics 10,000 metres. In fact, she is on standby because only two athletes, Carol Walsh and Lisa Bezzina, can be entered for the event. That is the kind of level we have reached these days – enough to disappoint an athlete, even if it was not our fault. Not every athlete has achieved the MQS. The Executive, however, makes several considerations. For example, those athletes who are very close, past results, and whether any recent injuries might have affected one’s performances, those who continue to show improvement week after week, month after month – these were all deemed fit enough to go. Because we know that it was not easy for our athletes to reach the MQS,” he said.
He added: “All our athletes have been very well prepared. We have had them monitored from all sectors and we know quite well what they are capable of doing. We have specialised coaches in each discipline, we have the facilities, we have everything today’s athlete should have to reach certain levels. In the long run, such facilities as the gym, the Functional Diagnostic Laboratory, the treatment at the Capua Hotel and others should prove fruitful to all. And that is why I genuinely believe that our athletes will be able to rise to the occasion in Monaco. Among the Maltese contingent, one can notice that there is a feeling of well being. The atmosphere is great and there no longer exists any inferiority complex as was the case until a few years ago,” he added.
Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said that positive results in the past decade have helped local sportsmen and sportswomen a lot. He added: “Even the fact that William Chetcuti won a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games was in itself a motivating factor for all local athletes. We still have to see whether the lack of shooting, women’s basketball and squash will have a negative effective on our overall result, but I still think we should make it.
“After all, this time, we have sailing which was missing at Andorra and we also have a good new swimmer with a lot of promise joining our squad. These two disciplines might provide a sort of compensation for the medals certainly dropping from the list due to reasons mentioned already. Swimmer Madeleine Scerri will soon be arriving from Australia to train and make her final preparations with the national squad. Her presence among us came after the fruitful talks we had during our Commonwealth Games participation in Melbourne last year. Her recent timings indicate that she can be in the medal zone in several of the events in which she will be taking part.”
Asked whether he was satisfied with the venues being offered for the Games, the MOC president said in most cases, especially the stadium and the tennis centre, they had some top class venues, but in others, there had been some complaints. “For example, we were not so happy with the venue where volleyball is being played, even if Malta is not taking part – the ceiling is too low. Even the air rifle and air pistol range is not ideal for the occasion. However, all those taking part will have to adapt to those conditions,” he added.
I also asked the MOC president whether the idea of having all the athletes accommodated on a cruise liner instead of a hotel, was acceptable. “I am sure rooms would have been bigger and perhaps more comfortable in a hotel. But once the conditions are the same for everyone else, we cannot complain. After all, we are going there to take part in sports competitions and not for a holiday. Considering everything, this should not constitute a problem,” he said.
As everyone might be aware, Pippo Psaila will be the Chef de Mission in Monaco. His assistants will be Marie Therese Zammit and Vince Scicluna while Dr Kyril Micallef Stafrace and Dr Lucienne Attard will be working on the medical needs of the contingent. Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco and secretary general Joe Cassar will be attending the meetings, including the Executive Committee meeting where those attending will have a problem to deal with.
In fact, the MOC president said that at present the Organising Committee is facing a serious threat of withdrawal by San Marino if their volleyball team is not allowed to take part in the event.
Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said the matter is very complicated and even the International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge, has had to intervene. “It is possible that when we meet on 24 May, it may be too late, because a decision might have been taken already. The problem concerns the post of president of the San Marino federation. They (San Marino) say that his election was valid, but it has met opposition from the European and world volleyball federations who consider his election as not valid.
“The issue has sounded a big alarm because if San Marino had to withdraw their contingent from the Games, there would be a disaster with bookings, accommodation, events and games etc. Despite the opposition from the European Federation, we now know that Dr Rogge, the IOC president, has requested the European Federation to allow San Marino to take part. But I do not know what exactly is going to happen,” said Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco.
This problem has to be solved at the meeting being held on 24 May, if not before. Otherwise when the Executive Committee meets again during the Games in Monaco, they will have to decide on the Games programme for the Cyprus edition of 2009. So far, it is known that the Organising Committee has proposed the following disciplines: athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, gymnastics, handball, judo, sailing, shooting, swimming, tennis and volleyball.
However, it is a known fact that only two team sport disciplines are so far allowed. For handball to make its entry into these Games in Cyprus in two years time, it will not be easy. Some countries, including Malta, have proposed table-tennis, while others want cycling to be included.
One other item which will have to be discussed is the possibility of new nations joining the group of eight. Said the MOC president: “To become eligible for membership, a country has to satisfy certain criteria. Among them is that they have to be IOC members and also have a population of less than one million. Gibraltar is not an IOC member but Montenegro is on the verge of being accepted as a member as well as a member of the Mediterranean Games Committee. Then, they will also be able to join the Games for the European Small States as their population is below the one million mark, even if the standard of their sportsmen and sportswomen is very much higher than those of the Small Nations Games.”
Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said these Games have become very popular in Malta. “It is a fact that they attract the interest of the majority of the population when they are held. Since they started being held, we have seen a big increase in the number of facilities, more youngsters are now taking part in several sports disciplines. The Government grant for sport has been increasing, though we would be glad to receive much more. The number of sponsors is also on the increase, and this is mostly because of the good results being achieved in every edition.
“These Games have also left a legacy. Infact, more people, especially women, take an interest in sport today. We still need more funds to reach our targets. We still cannot make any comparison to what we invest in sport and what the others do. For example, Cyprus alone invests 20 times more than we do and their results, even in the Olympics Games, show quite clearly. We are sure we can also win more medals if there is a bigger investment in sport,” he said.
He contended that these Games were still very important for the local athletes. “There will be a couple of new faces obtaining good results. We also have a good number of very promising youngsters taking part. All these are there thanks to past athletes – they were lured because of the results in the past. Now it is evident that we have a good crop for the future of local sport. Taking care of them will certainly prove to be a wise investment,” he added.
He finally said: “Another good result in Monaco will be good for Maltese sport in general. And as I have already said, I am very hopeful. This manifestation is one of few events which unites the Maltese people. We must all agree to support Team Malta in Monaco.”