With just more than a couple of weeks to go for the start of Athens 2004, the feelgood factor inside the Malta Olympic Committee was again very much in evidence yesterday when officials and some of the athletes who will represent the country in Greece met journalists at Tal-Qroqq.

Darren Gilford, who competes in the 100m, and sailing coach Jerome Mainemare, of Spain, responsible for the preparation of Laser Class sailor Mario Aquilina, both sounded confident of satisfactory results.

Gilford, who boasts national records in the 60m and 100m, was pleased with his condition and looking forward to make his Olympics debut.

"I've been practising athletics since I was nine. At first, I tried long jump," he said.

"Soon, I started dedicating all my energy on sprints and since then I managed to win various honours and took part in international competitions like the European and World Championships. However, competing in the Olympics was always my childhood dream.

"Now, I've been preparing for these Games for the last 12 months and my form has been really good. I am confident that in Athens I can do really well and achieve my modest goals."

Mainemare has been coaching Aquilina since 2001. He said that he was encouraged by the current form of the Maltese sailor.

"Mario has been doing well lately. His fourth placing in the recent Copa de Espana was a clear indication that he has reached a remarkable level. Things are looking good but then everything will depend on his performance on the day," Mainemare, who led Malta's sailing team in last year's GSSE to astounding success, said.

In Athens, the Maltese athletes will be assisted by a sports psychologist, Adele Muscat.

She has been assisting MOC athletes for over five years now. The creditable showings achieved by some of the athletes these last few years are testimony of the importance that they receive an ideal mental preparation.

"When you compete in a huge event such as the Olympics an athlete faces a lot of stress caused by anxiety and loss of concentration," Muscat said.

"My main job in Athens will be to spur athletes ahead of their events. Before I started working with the MOC there were some athletes who were always on the verge of success but for some reason or another they were not strong enough mentally in key moments.

"I believe that sports psychology has helped them to become better athletes and hopefully my contribution will enable them to achieve the results they're after."

During yesterday's meeting, MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco, in the presence of Athens 2004 chef-de-mission Marie Therese Zammit, was delighted to receive the sum of Lm20,000 by Tonio Fenech, the Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, as assistance to preparations for the Games.

Government's assistance

"We appreciate government's help through this financial assistance. An adequate build-up for the Olympics requires thousands of liri. The athletes looked prepared from all aspects and we're confident they will do well in Athens," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

On his part Fenech said: "The government has long recognised the need to give a helping hand to our athletes in such big events. It's a huge honour for the country to have athletes who spend long hours training with the aim of achieving a good result.

"We augur that our assistance will help them reach their set targets for the Games."