With the announcement and confirmation by the Andorra National Olympic Committee (NOC) cancelling the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) which were to be held in Andorra in May 2021, the next country to host them will be Malta in 2023.
The Andorra NOC President confirmed earlier this month that due to the current situation, including also the economic and sports situation caused by Covid-19 the country, that they will not be in a position to host the games.
Malta will now host the 19th edition of these games, and thus it will be the third time that Malta would be hosting them after the editions in 1993 and 2003.
All types of sport around the world has been affected, and in Malta it is no different. The proverbial saying ‘every cloud has a silver lining’ brings hope in many different ways to all athletes passing through this challenging situation due to this pandemic. One step at a time until the sports sector will be back stronger than ever.
This pandemic brought significant disruptions in the training plans, training camps and competitions for athletes who have dedicated much of their time and money to competing and improving. These are certainly times that no one has control over. Consequently, here the entire sports sector including all stakeholders - that is coaches, officials and administrators - are set to face challenges due to this crisis which could also have long lasting impacts on the clubs and the sports themselves.
The GSSE Malta 2023 should not be the only target for our athletes, even though we must agree that these games carry certain pride for the athletes and the country. In these exceptional circumstances where sports are on hold, it is of the utmost importance to establish adequate support for athletes, including a clear action plan once the health restrictions from the authorities are eased or the pandemic passes.
Undoubtedly, this is one of the most challenging times for athletes and players. This is a time that brings about uncertainty. Many questions pass through the athletes’ heads: When are we resuming training sessions with teammates? When are the sports clubs opening? When is the gym opening? When is the pool opening? Will I get the sponsor back? When will I be able to travel again in order to compete? When is my next race? What about my training plans? Am I still motivated to play the sport?
This crisis has hit us hard and fast. The fact that all sport is on hold, provides athletes the opportunity to keep focus and get closer to the dreams. We are on our way to beating this pandemic. We hold out hope for the day when athletes, players and teams once again take the field and sport becomes our pride once again.
This is a long road – difficult but not impossible - heading to a number of national sports events and also international ones leading to the GSSE Malta 2023. Let’s hope for the best.