The Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) which will be held in Liechtenstein between 30 May and 5 June will top the agenda of the Maltese Olympic Committee this year.

This was the main topic during the traditional media breakfast organised by the Maltese Olympic Committee last week with MOC President Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, stressing that the 14th GSSE in Liechtenstein represent another big challenge for the MOC. However he is confident, that Team Malta can improve on the achievements of the last editions of the Games.

“The 2011 GSSE will be the main appointment on the MOC agenda for the months to come,” commented the MOC President who stressed that: “As in the recent past the GSSE always attract huge following from the Maltese public as they give the MOC the best opportunity to register success on the international scene.”

Reference was made that following the 1993 Games in Malta and the 1997 edition held in Iceland, the number of medals won by our athletes have increased considerably and the MOC President stressed that the 2011 will still confirm the progress made by local athletes irrespective of the many difficulties these have to face to keep pace with their counterparts.

For the GSSE in Liechtenstein, the disciplines in programme will be: athletics, target shooting, swimming, volleyball (beach and indoor), cycling (road and mountain bike), table tennis, tennis, squash and judo.

Clay shooting and sailing, where normally local athletes win medals, will not be in the programme of Games.

In Liechtenstein, the number of countries participating in the Games will increase for the first time since 1985 as Montenegro are expected to make their first appearance following their inclusion on the decisions held in Cyprus in 2009.

In the small nations’ fold, a move approved in Cyprus two years ago.

MOC Director of Sport Mark Cutajar emphassed that the Minimum Qualifying Standards for the athletes have already been established and that no one will be admitted in the contingent if they fail to reach the required qualifications.

He also pointed that athletes like sprinters Charlene Attard and Diane Borg and judoka Marcon Bezzina are recovering well and will gain momentum in the coming months in time for the Games..

Meanwhile, the MOC President confirmed that the government has allocated €248,500 in assistance to local federations and another €120,000 to the MOC ahead of the GSSE.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco pointed that the Maltese Olympic Committee received funds from the European Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Solidarity among others.

There are other international commitments for MOC contingents as between May 24 and 29, 2011 Maltese athletes will compete in the COJI (Island Youth) Games in Palermo where Malta will take part in tennis, sailing, gymnastics, table tennis, athletics and swimming.

In July (23-30), will be turn of the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) to be held, in Trabzon, Turkey and the Commonwealth Youth Games, at Isle of Man, will be held between 7 and 13 September where the MOC will be present with gymnastics and swimming.

At the end of his detailed presentation, Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco made a special mention of veteran journalist Manuel Gauci, former head of sports with Media. Link Communications, who has now retired after 41 years of service to sport and the local media.

The MOC President presented Gauci with a replica of the 2003 GSSE Gold medal. Other journalists who were given similar recognition in the past were Tony Costantino, Lewis Portelli, Charles Fava, Anthony Buhagiar, Benny Pace and Henry Brincat.