EOC mull European Games as NOC delegates assemble in Malta

Top officials from 49 European National Olympic Committees (NOC) will be in Malta this week to take part in an EOC seminar which will be held at the Grand Hotel Excelsior between Thursday and Saturday.

The meeting will be chaired by EOC president Patrick Hickey who will be assisted by vice-president Alexander Kozlovsky, secretary Raffaele Pagnozzi and treasurer Kiki Lazarides.

The opening session is scheduled for Thursday afternoon and will also see the participation of Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport, Clyde Puli.

Maltese Olympic Committee president Lino Farrugia Sacco yesterday told a news conference that preparations for the top-level meeting were on schedule and was hopeful that the event will further enhance Malta's reputation among the participating NOCs.

"It's a great privilege for us to host this meeting," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

"When the EOC gave us the opportunity to host this event last year we accepted it with both hands as we knew that it would be of great benefit for Maltese sport in general. Several high-standing officials in the Olympic family will be here for the meeting so we want preparations to go according to plan."

The main item on the agenda will be the creation of a European Games that will see athletes from all representative countries on the continent competing in a multi-sport programme.

"This idea has been discussed for a few years now and a commission has been established to analyse whether it is possible for these Games to come into effect," the MOC head said.

"The main problem is when to hold the Games given the already-congested calendar we have. One possibility would be to hold the Games without the participation of those federations that hold regular European Championships, the likes of athletics and basketball, for instance."

Concurrently with the EOC seminar, delegates will also take part in a forum organised by the International Olympic Committee where the autonomy and the good governance of National Olympic Committees will be discussed.

Volos decision

Another important meeting at the Excelsior Hotel this week will be that of the Mediterranean Games Executive Committee.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco, chairman of the Audit Committee of the Med. Games, said officials will mainly deal on the venue of the next Games in 2013 - the Greek city of Volos.

"Volos is the host country for 2013 but they are seriously risking the right to hold the Games," the MOC president said.

"So far, they failed to adhere to a number of deadlines set by the Executive Committee and have just been handed a 60-day deadline to make sure they keep their promises.

"We all know Greece has plunged into huge financial problems. Volos still wants to keep the Games but they want to spend half the budget promised in" their bid.

This has to be discussed thoroughly though and on Thursday we shall decide if they can keep the Games or not. If Volos are stripped of the Games, the Med. Games Council will have to choose another venue for 2013."