Small nations - an important cog in Med. Games success

Small nations, in particular those from the GSSE, are an important component of the Mediterranean Games which will be held in Pescara this year.

This was stated by Med. Games international committee president Ammar Addadi, currently attending the Games of the Small States of Europe.

Addadi is an interested guest in Cyprus as he is taking a closer look at the potential of countries like Malta and its athletes who will be taking part in the 25th Med. Games later this month.

"I came to Cyprus on the invitation of the organising committee and my friend Lino Farrugia Sacco. I wanted to have a clearer idea of these Games and I must say that I've liked what I saw," Addadi said.

"When the Mediterranean Games are on, most of the focus is on the big countries such as Italy, Spain and Croatia. But one has to keep in mind that the contribution of small nations like Malta is important for us to keep our family together and gauge the level of competition.

"In the few days I've been here I could notice some high-calibre performances in different sport and this continues to strengthen my belief that the participation of GSSE countries in the Med. Games has to be sustained for us to achieve wider success.

"Besides, participation in the Med. Games gives athletes from small countries the possibility to compete with others of a higher level and that helps them to mature faster."

Abruzzo quake

The build-up to the 2009 Med. Games has been affected by the devastating earthquake that hit the Italian region of Abruzzo but Addadi, of Algeria, assured that there was no cause of concern.

"The earthquake disaster was a huge blow for the organisers but we know that the majority of the venues were unaffected. In fact, the only complex that is likely to be changed is the L'Aquila stadium.

"Accommodation will be a problem though as there are several hotels that are currently hosting people who lost their homes.

"But we're hopeful that the problem could be solved soon."

This year's Mediterranean Games are set to be the biggest in history as there are two new countries joining in following the inclusion of Andorra and Montenegro, the GSSE new entrants.

"The Games in Pescara will be a huge event with an estimated 3,500 athletes taking part," Addadi confirmed.

"Forty per cent of those in the entry list figured in last year's Beijing Olympics, making competition even more interesting and the standard of our Games higher."