The wait is now almost over. We're just 24 hours away from the start of the 11th Games of the Small States of Europe. Pippo Psaila, the MOC Director of Sport and Malta's Chef-de-Mission in Andorra, has again been responsible for the technical preparation of our 64 athletes. The build-up was far from plainsailing but confidence is still high. Valhmor Camilleri has more...
A dispute between the Malta Olympic Committee and the authorities over the role of the Kunsill Malti Ghall-Isport a few months ago, almost brought to a standstill the athletes' preparations as the governing body responsible for elite sport threatened to pull out of the GSSE.
Thankfully, after weeks of squabbling a solution was found and the MOC continued with its plans to see athletes gearing up for the GSSE and ready to meet their pre-set objectives.
But, can we really aspire to a successful performance in Andorra?
"In my opinion yes, no doubt," Psaila was quick to reply.
"Obviously, I would have preferred to have had a more serene build-up for the Games but once the problems were resolved, our preparatory work picked up well and I can say that all our athletes have reached a competitive level to challenge for a medal.
"This may be one of the smallest contingents but it's also one of the most talented we've ever had.
"All the athletes in the squad satisfied our pre-requisites, the Minimum Qualifying Standards established in October 2003... we can look at these Games with great confidence."
It would be wrong, however, to expect a repeat performance of the 44-medal haul achieved in Malta two years ago.
Psaila said: "This time the scenario is decidedly different. First and foremost we're not competing on home soil - a decisive factor in our excellent all-round performances.
"Second, the Andorra organisers have omitted two of our favourite sport - squash and sailing. Besides, we must also take into account that we will not field teams in beach volley and volleyball. We've got no riders in mountain bike as well.
"Still, our target in Andorra is to match the seven gold medals won in San Marino - our best ever GSSE performance away from our shores. There will be a pool of very competitive athletes but we also have our own strengths which will hopefully come to the fore."
After the list of athletes making the trip to Andorra was announced, some criticised the MOC for the strict policy adopted in selecting the group.
The MQS system was branded as too rigid and in some cases inappropriate to gauge an athlete's level of competitiveness.
Psaila, however, thinks otherwise.
"In our opinion the MQS system is the best to measure the level of performance in an athlete. In swimming and athletics the qualifying mark was the time achieved by the bronze medal winners in 2003.
"In other sport we only analysed those results in international events we regarded as being of the same level as the GSSE. It was not easy but at some point we had to draw a line and decide.
"True, in some cases the MQSs were too tight but we had to stick to our principles as we wanted to adhere with our criteria of picking only those who can challenge for top placings in Andorra. If there's anyone with a better system of selection he's welcome to come forward and explain it to us."
One discipline in which Malta definitely lags behind other GSSE nations is swimming.
In Andorra, Malta will only have five members in the team with late entry Neil Agius being the only male swimmer in the group. It's a very small share when one thinks that there are over 100 medals at stake.
Psaila said that it is clear that the main problem with swimming is the absence of a structural system that attracts youngsters to take up the sport and provide them with incentives to start a competitive career.
"I think the ASA and its Swimming Board have a duty to boost the sport they represent," Psaila said. "It's a pity that in a country like ours we do not have an ideal set-up for swimmers. Here, we have a unique situation where internal competition between waterpolo and swimming could exist within the same organisation.
"The problem also emanates from a very thin base of swimmers to choose from. The ASA should embark on new initiatives to establish a national programme and bring more newcomers to the sport.
"If the set-up is solid, there will be a strong response. Look at football nurseries, hundreds of young hopefuls flock the grounds even though they have to pay."
The 2003 Games were a great success on all fronts. Many were of the opinion that the legacy of those Games would secure a bright future for Maltese sport. Psaila, however, feels that the country has failed to reap the dividends of that success.
"I feel that we have missed the boat," he said.
"After Malta 2003 local sport was the main talking point of a whole nation. With efforts from all quarters we could have taken sport to new heights... unfortunately this has not materialised.
"Two years on and government contributions have been reduced. The MOC is still not in a position to make long-term projects.
"I guess that things have to change very quickly if we want to move ahead. The MOC has to be supported by one and all. It's not only the government, we have to attract sponsorships from the private sector as well. There has to be a national mobilisation towards this goal."
Useful changes
San Marino hosted the first Games in 1985. We've now reached the 11th edition. Some contend that the Games may be losing popularity among prominent countries such as Iceland, Cyprus and Luxembourg.
Asked to give his views Psaila said: "If the GSSE are to stay, changes must take place.
"The Games are getting bigger in my opinion and financial support by the IOC and EOC should be given accordingly. More aid has to reach the participating nations to see these Games flourishing even more.
"Another aspect that needs to be tackled is the calendar of sports. Too many changes are being effected from one edition to the other.
"Perhaps it's time to establish new regulations and seek more stability so GSSE nations can introduce long-term projects."
Whatever the drawbacks, the International Bureau has to seek a better future for the Games but it's wrong for all participants to focus solely on the GSSE and refrain from looking beyond.
"The GSSE is an ideal launching pad but we all have to turn our sights on bigger events," Psaila said. "The MOC has already adopted this approach. Our aim is to win some honour at next month's Mediter-ranean Games and the 2006 Com-monwealth Games.
"A medal at the 2008 Olympics is another target. We do have the talent to reach most of our aims and the MOC will do everything possible to fulfil this ambition."
Maltese athletes in Andorra
Athletics: Nikolai Portelli, Mark Herrera, Karl Farrugia, Darren Gilford, Mario Bonello, Rashid Chouhal, Stefan Mohnani, Rebecca Camilleri, Therese Mallia, Lisa Bezzina, Charlene Attard, Carol Galea, Lara Scerri, Diane Borg, Martina Xuereb, Jeandre Mallia, Jean Paul Callus, Ivan Borg and Antonella Chouhal.
Basketball: Rachel Camilleri, Beverley Zammit, Alexis Darmanin, Caroline Fenech, Dorianne Galea, Josephine Grima, Ann Jetcheva, Kirsten Micallef, Doreen Parnis, Sandra Schembri Wismayer, Marleen Troost and Greta Zarb.
Cycling: Etienne Bonello, Dermot Galea, Roderick Muscat, Jack Schiavone and David Treacy.
Judo: Murman Korchilava, Reuben Micallef, Yvgeny Ulanov, Marcon Bezzina, Vicky Licari, Luana Ciantar, Michael Zahra and Eileen Portelli.
Shooting: Joe Attard, William Chetcuti, Emmanuel Grima, Frans Pace, Paul Vella and William Vella.
Swimming: Roberta Callus, Francesca Paolella, Angela Galea, Davina Mangion and Neil Agius.
Table Tennis: Simon Gerada, Andrezei Makowski and Johanna Grech.
Tennis: Lisa Camenzuli, Stephanie Pace, Daniel Ceros and Boris Pasanski.
Taekwondo: Neville Desira and Stephen Formosa.