More than 80 athletes and officials from nine national sports associations affiliated with the Maltese Olympic Committee will be participating in the 2011 of the Jeux des Iles – Games held for athletes at youth level coming from 19 different islands from Europe and beyond.

During the first official meeting for those forming part of the contingent, Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, President of the Maltese Olympic Committee stressed on the importance of such Games which are the first step for success for certain athletes and an ideal start for many in their first international experiences.

Emphasis was made on such participation where athletes at youth level can make a better self assessment of their potential in a competition where with their counterparts they can achieve certain results which will definitely demonstrate their improvement reached in Malta prior to their selection for these Games.

The meeting was also addressed by Joe Cassar, Secretary General of the Maltese Olympic Committee who gave an overview of the COJI experiences where during the last decade various Maltese athletes achieved positive results in various disciplines.

Dr Lucienne Attard, Director within the MOC and responsible for the Sport Medicine sector, gave details about Doping in Sport and the necessary awareness young athletes and their respective officials need to have as well as how to update themselves with what’s happening in this sector.

Logistic details as well as details about the disciplines in the sport programme were given by Envic Galea, Director of Youth and Chef de Mission for COJI 2011 where he made emphasis on the selection criteria on those forming part of the Maltese contingent and the role of the Maltese Olympic Committee on the selection.

Galea thanked the responsible national associations as nowadays they are more aware of giving their young athletes more opportunities to develop their talents as these are definitely an investment for the immediate future.

The Jeux des Iles – Sicily 2011 will be held between 24 and 29 May and the Opening Ceremony will be held in the evening of 24 May.

The Maltese Olympic Committee will be participating in swimming, athletics, gymnastics, sailing, tennis, table-tennis, female volleyball team as well as in two demonstration sports namely, rugby and weightlifting.

Charles Camenzuli

MOC Director of media