Shooter Gianluca Chetcuti was Malta's flag bearer yesterday as the Montenegro Games were officially opened yesterday with the opening ceremony.
In the main square of the old part of Budva in Montenegro, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic officially opened the 18th edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe.
Montenegro Olympic Committee President Dusan Simonovic delivered the welcome speech to the nine participating countries and their delegations.
The motto of the games "How Big We Are" was emphasized in the visual display presented by ceremony Director Nikola Vukcevic. During the same ceremony two important dates in the history of Montenegro were mentioned, namely the earthquake of 1979 and the rebuilding process, and the war for independence of 21 May 2006.
Apart from the usual march past of the nine participating countries, the highlight was reached with the hoisting of the GSSE Flag and the lighting of the Games' torch by Bojana Popovic, a member of the historic women's handball team that gave Montenegro a silver medal in the 2012 London Olympic Games.