Minister for Education and Sport Clifton Grima announced the launch of Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), which will be held in Malta between 28 May and 3 June of 2023, marking the third time that the country will be hosting these games since their inception in 1985.

The games will have over 1,200 participants and officials from small European countries, who will compete in a number of disciplined sports such as athletics, basketball, judo, rugby 7’s, boarding, shooting games, squash, swimming, table tennis and tennis. This will raise Malta’s profile in the world of sports.

Grima said that the government is proud to hold such a prestigious sporting event in the country for the third time. “The government is proud to be giving full support to this sector, especially to these games. We have invested both in sports infrastructure, which we are raising to an international level, but for the first time, we have also invested in human resources,” said Grima.

€5 million was allocated to Sport Malta to facilitate training for athletes and engagement of professional coaches. Grima said that he sees these games as an opportunity for Maltese athletes to further better the sport sector in Malta and Europe.

President of the Maltese Olympic Committee Julian Pace Bonello said that the Maltese Olympic Committee has long worked closely with all the federations involved to increase both the support and the necessary preparations. “These games will be a catalyst for growth and inspiration for future athletes,” he said, adding that the games will give the country a strengthened sense of pride.

CEO of Sport Malta Mark Cutajar said that the Ministry for Education and Sport, the Maltese Olympic Committee and Sport Malta are working to ensure these games will be an event which all of society can enjoy.

Sport Malta Chairman Luciano Busuttil continued with Cutajar, saying that the investment in sport infrastructure will raise the country to an international level.

Maltese athletes have won 331 medals since the start of these games. In the two editions which happened in Malta, athletes won 32 medals in 1993, and 44 medals in 2003.