The Maltese Olympic Committee will probably be represented by six or seven athletes at the Beijing Olympic Games next August.

Addressing a Media Breakfast at the Grand Excelsior Hotel in Floriana yesterday morning, MOC president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco said that two athletes to be selected from one male and four females, two swimmers to be selected from among two males and four females, one judoka (Marcon Bezzina) and one or two shooters – William Chetcuti and another still unknown will be taking part in the Beijing Games.

Farrugia Sacco added that Malta’s contingent in Beijing will be led by Julian Pace Bonello who will be the Chef de Mission.

The MOC will be receiving a grant from the International Olympic Committee to participate in the Olympics. This will mainly involve funds for accommodation, transport and allowance re-expenses in Beijing.

He announced that the track suits and other apparel to be worn by the athletes in Beijing has already been selected.

Moreover, the MOC has benefited from three scholarships from International Olympic Solidarity which are worth about $18,000 a year.

The Games will be held between 8 and 24 August.

During the Games, there will also be a Youth Camp in Beijing where the MOC is planning to send one male and another female student (16-18). The selection process has already started.

Farrugia Sacco spoke about the achievements of the past year, mainly the Small Nations Games where Malta, despite an unfavourable programme, won four golds, nine silver and 17 bronze medals. He also highlighted the success obtained in the recently held Mediterranean Friendship tournament, although he made it clear that this was only a tournament between Malta and Sicily.

Then he went on to highlight the other events where the MOC will be taking part this year, apart from the Olympics.

The MOC is to take part in the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune. It is expected to send some athletes and shooters for this event.

An important item is the discussion in the European Olympic Committee about the Small Nations Games. Farrugia Sacco explained that the EOC and the GSSE Executive Committee are discussing the possibility of the Small Nations Games forming part of the European Olympic Committee rather than just being recognised by such a powerful committee. The GSSE executive is to meet in Cyprus to discuss the proposal and also to discuss next year’s Games in Cyprus.

Farrugia Sacco also spoke in detail about the MOC’s funds saying that the grant from the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport (KMS) will amount to e279,524. Other grants included the 100 gym allocations valued at e23,293, a grant from the IOC which amounted to e79,919, a grant of e36,581 from the EOC and e16,640 each from the Delhi and Glasgow Commonwealth Games Organising Committees. There were other small grants arriving from Mediterranean Games Scholarships and Volos grants which will be made available later this year.

Moreover, the MOC has generated e81,528 from local marketing as well as a similar sum worth in kind which goes to the benefit of the local federations and athletes.

The MOC will hand grants by direct allocation to federations and athletes to the tune of e232,937 this year. A further e53,575 will go t o support athletes at the Functional Diagnostic Lab and St James Clinic.

The MOC will also be celebrating its 80th anniversary this year and together with other expenses, such as Water and Electricity, Anti-Doping, Audit Fees, Administrative expenses, the Awards Night and other items, it will be spending around e342,417.

The MOC president also promised that the MOC will maintain its funding of athletes in the Elite Athlete schemes and other athletes.

Among the several projects mentioned by Farrugia Sacco to be given special attention this year, is one which concerns Local Councils. It is a proposal aimed at encouraging these Councils to increase sports facilities and to promote sports in their localities.

The MOC will be presenting an award (during the Awards Night) to that Council which would have promoted most the values of sport in its locality if the required standard is reached.