Team Malta (minus the athletics squad) left the island yesterday afternoon on its way to Liechtenstein where it will be taking part in the 14th edition of the Games of the European Small States.

Team Malta will consist of 61 athletes, but some of them are expected to join the contingent in the capital Vaduz, or where most of the athletes are being accommodated, in Feldkirch, Austria.

Not travelling today were the athletics squad. These will be leaving Malta tomorrow, arriving in time to take part in the Opening Ceremony.

Earlier, on Friday, Chef de Mission Mark Cutajar, who is also the MOC Director of Sport, was the first to travel to Liechtenstein, together with physiotherapist Adele Muscat. Assistant Chef de Mission and MOC Deputy President Julian Pace Bonello was expected to travel to Liechtenstein yesterday. The rest of the MOC officials also travelled yesterday.

The athletes and officials (including coaches) forming part of the contingent are the following:

Athletics: Charlene Attard, Lisa Marie Bezzina, Diane Borg, Neil Brimmer, Giselle Camilleri, Owen Lee Camilleri, Rebecca Camilleri, Rachid Chouhal, James d’Alfonso, Karl Farrugia, Nicole Gatt, Andy Grech, Mark Herrera, Kevin Arthur Moore, Alessandra Pace, Celine Pace, Francesca Xuereb, Martina Xuereb. Officials: Edwin Attard, Anthony Chircop and Mario Micallef. Cycling: Etienne Bonello, Maurice Formosa, David Galea, David Millar, Jason Vella. Officials: Charles Sammut, Jack Schiavone Judo: Marcon Bezzina, Joanne Camilleri, Brent Law, Jeremy Saywell. Officials: Lamberto Raffi, Alexander Bezzina Shooting (air pistol and air rifle): Eleonor Bezzina, Marianna Kisvardai, William Vella. Official: Istvan Kisvardai. Squash: Theresa Brousson, Carl Camilleri, Dianne Desira, Joseph Desira, Nigel Dunkerley, Michael Fiteni, Bradley Hindle-Deguara, Mark Lupi, Annabelle Olivieri-Munroe, Johanna Rizzo, Colette Sultana, Daniel Zammit Lewis. Officials: Ivan Balzan, Liz Said. Swimming: Andrea Agius, Neil Agius, Edward Caruana Dingli, Andrew Chetcuti, Davina Mangion, Melinda Sue Micallef, Nicola Muscat, Talisa Pace, Mark Sammut. Officials: Charis Agius, Andy Colbourn. Table-Tennis: Daniel Bajada, Simon Gerada, Lu Peng Fei, Jessica Pace. Officials: Alex Anastasi, Andrei Makowski. Tennis: Matthew Asciak, Nick Camilleri, Kimberley Cassar, Mark Gatt, Bena Jetcheva. Gordon Asciak, Godwin Borg. Volleyball (Beach): Alison Borg, Gertrude Zarb. Official: Srojan Veckov The MOC officials will be Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, president, Joseph Cassar, secretary general, Mark Cutajar, Chef de Mission, Julian Pace Bonello (Technical Commission), David Azzopardi, Director of Finance, Dr Lucienne Attard (Head medical team), Adele Muscat, Asst. Chef Logistics, Vincent Scicluna, Asst, Chef transport and Charles Camenzuli, media relations. Milos Stanislajevic and Annalise Cassar form part of the MOC medical team.

Squash first to be in action

The Squash teams will be the first of the Maltese in action at the Games.

In fact, they will be involved in games from the preliminary round this morning, even before the Opening Ceremony which is to be held this evening.

The men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to meet their Icelandic counterparts at 11am.

As to the other competitions, it is not yet known who will be playing and when, as this probably depends on what is discussed during the technical meetings of each sport discipline. These are being held this afternoon.

Otherwise, all the athletes will be in action at the march-past during the Opening Ceremony at the Rheinpark Stadion which starts at 8pm. Sources close to the organising committee would not divulge details but said it will be a spectacular ceremony.