Malta team for revamped event in Cyprus

The eighth Triathlon Championships of the Small States of Europe (TCSSE) will be held on Sunday in Cyprus.

This year's race is likely to be different from the preceding ones as for the first time registration is open to allcomers.

A total of 76 men and 17 women from 21 European countries have jumped on the opportunity to garner valuable international ranking points which will help them qualify for the World Championships as well as the Olympics.

This is a far cry from last year's race in Malta, when merely 24 triathletes - all from the Small States of Europe pool - participated.

The TCSSE was the dream of the present Executive of the Malta Triathlon Association (MTA) back in 1999. The first four races (2000 to 2003) were held in Malta with the participation of athletes from Cyprus, Monaco and Luxembourg.

In 2003, the race received recognition from the International Triathlon Union and the European Triathlon Union. The race's new status is now the Continental Cup.

In 2004 and 2005, championships were held in Cyprus and Luxembourg respectively and in 2006 they returned to Malta.

Again it was in Malta that the decision was taken to open the race to everyone rather than remain a backwater of a handful of triathletes competing among themselves.

The race on Sunday promises to be a spectacular event, with some of the best athletes from Ukraine, Russia and Greece vying for the title alongside representatives from Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Malta and Cyprus.

Malta will be represented by Mark Zammit, currently training in Hungary, Keith Galea and Brian Magri.

Dermot Galea, the winner of the qualifying Salina Bay Triathlon in April, had to withdraw to focus better on his academical studies.

In the women's field, national champion Danica Spiteri is Malta's sole representative.

The Maltese team is assisted by the Maltese Olympic Committee and Emirates Airline.