MOC satisfied with results

An air of optimism emanated from the headquarters at tal-Qroqq yesterday as the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) reviewed the participation of Team Malta in the Beijing Olympics which came to a close last Sunday.

Malta had six athletes in the Chinese capital and the closest one to achieve his pre-set target was double trap shooter William Chetcuti. He just missed out on a place in the final after bowing out following a shoot-off with three other competitors.

Chetcuti finished eighth overall and his placing was recognised by the IOC who presented him with an Olympic diploma.

There were national records in swimming but the track and field duo of Nicolai Portelli and Charlene Attard were outside their personal best times in sprints. Judoka Marcon Bezzina was eliminated from the first round of the 63 kgs category event.

The MOC said the performance of Team Malta was the best ever for the country since the first participation in Amsterdam 1928. The outcome will serve as an incentive for the MOC to strive harder and raise the bar to higher standards.

The prospects look bright as MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco revealed that in a meeting he had with IOC officials in Beijing, he was promised more assistance and better funding following Team Malta's encouraging display during the Games.

More good news was to follow when during the same conference call yesterday, Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli, who followed Team Malta's prospects in Beijing, presented a grant of 70,000 euros to the MOC in recognition of their efforts ahead of the Games.

"Team Malta seems to have left a positive impact here and also outside our shores," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

"The IOC promise of better funding was good news for us and Mr Puli's grant was unexpected but the money will help us provide more assistance to our athletes.

"We never seem to have enough to cover expenses. In our opinion, the MOC requires 250,000 euros more each year for us to reach most of our objectives and take Maltese sport to another level.

"The Beijing Games were exceptional and excellently organised. Team Malta athletes were committed and fully-focused to achieve their goals. Chetcuti was close to a place in the final but the competition was so tough. In the end, I think the general performance was satisfactory."

Puli said the government was in constant contact with various entities to unearth new ways to generate funds as more upgrading of existing facilities was in the offing.

"We did not waste our time in Beijing," he said.

"Besides attending various meetings and support our athletes during competition, we could see for ourselves the way other countries prepared for the Olympics. This was a new experience for me but one that drives me to work harder and obtain better conditions for our sport.

"When Parliament resumes next month, the decision for Athletics Malta to run the facilities at Marsa will be sealed and discussions are also underway to identify a site for a new shooting range. Also, the fitness centre at Tal-Qroqq will be upgraded in October.

"In the meantime, talks are also ongoing for government to allocate more funds if possible in the upcoming budget later on this year."

Team Malta results yesterday came under the scrutiny of MOC Director of Sport Pippo Psaila. He told reporters that overall the MOC was happy even though better results were expected in some quarters.

His assessment was based on the fact that, according to Psaila, all athletes in Beijing were provided with incentive schemes in their build-up to the Games and the training was almost on a professional basis.

"Shooting and swimming had the best results for us but we think we could have done better results in track and field and judo," Psaila said, adding that a profound analysis will be made in the coming weeks with the coaches and federations concerned.

"Our two sprinters in athletics were way off their personal best times and it seems they did not peak in time for the Games despite an intensive training schedule. Our judoka in Beijing was fully recovered from surgery and many thought, including herself, that she could have done much better than suffering elimination in the first round. I think Marcon Bezzina was good enough to surpass the first hurdle in her competition."

Psaila is also of the opinion that more assistance is required for the country to make a leap in quality on the international scene.

With the 2009 GSSE coming up, Psaila said the MOC is gearing up for the Games in Cyprus but talent alone cannot be honed without other resources and that includes the financial aspect.

"Team GB did wonders in Beijing and this had nothing to do with for instance, population size but because the authorities there pumped in the money needed to reap success. Taking all GSSE members into consideration, our country's budget for sport is well behind Luxembourg, Cyprus and Iceland.

"Iceland won a silver medal in men's handball in China and Cyprus had a contingent of 30 athletes, 23 of whom qualified for the Games on their own merit. Luxembourg almost won a medal in men's cycling.

"To reach this level we have to bank on more resources and that includes an improvement in our technical sector. Our coaches also have to step up a level as I deem that we have good talent here to succeed.

"Four years ago I went on record as saying that William Chetcuti has the qualities of a medal winner. Today, not only I affirm that view but I'm sure that with more funding and the assistance of qualified coaches others like William could also do well outside our shores."