A short but spectacular opening ceremony yesterday at the Granaries in Floriana opened the 19th edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe.

All nine participating countries made their entry and later world known tenor Joseph Calleja sang the national anthem. Tennis player Elaine Genovese and track and field sprinter Matthew Galea Soler carried Malta’s flag.

Eleonor Bezzina read the athletes’ oath with Mario Bonello reading the oaths for coaches and David Bonello reading the oaths for officials.

Other moments from opening ceremony included the carrying of the Malta flag and that of the Games of the Small States of Europe.

These flags were carried by Diane Borg, Katya Pace, Marcon Bezzina, Johanna Grech, and Nicole Caruana.

GSSE veterans Carol Cassar Torregiani and Helen Asciak were the final torch bearers that lit the flame of the games.

The final torch bearers included specialolympics athlete Nicole Caruana, paralympian Maya Theuma, former sailing GSSE medallist Mario Aquilina, shooter William Chetcuti, and veteran bowler Sue Abela.

There were short speeches from Sports Minister Clifton Grima, Malta Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello, European Olympic Committee President Spyros Capralos and the concluding speech from Malta Prime Minister Robert Abela who officially declared the Games of the Small States of Europe Open.

A fireworks display brought this colourful ceremony to an end.

Now the athletes will take centre stage with the first medals being assigned today.

The two major Olympic disciplines, athletics and swimming will be in the spot‐ light today with ten titles assigned in athletics, twelve in swimming and another seven titles in Judo.

Basketball, Tennis and squash will resume, with other disciplines like sailing, shooting and table tennis having their first taste of action.

Photo: Domenic Aquilina