With less than three weeks before the start of the 2009 Games of the Small States of Europe, the Maltese Olympic Committee is facing a dilemma on whether to field a women's team in gymnastics following an international dispute between the Cyprus Olympic Committee and the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG).
According to the technical book published by the Cyprus GSSE organisers, all competitions in Limassol have no age limits attached. However, the FIG has informed the Cypriots that the GSSE had to observe international rules and therefore those under the age of 16 are ineligible to compete next month.
The world body added that gymnasts under the age limit could still figure in the GSSE but in a juniors competition and not the Open event.
It seems, the Cypriot Olympic Committee has refused to adhere to FIG instructions so far and their stance has sparked uncertainty among other GSSE countries with gymnasts under 16 years in their squads.
Director of Sport Mark Cutajar said the MOC is still monitoring the situation and stressed that any decision taken will be in the best interest of the Maltese gymnasts and the local federation.
"We are watching closely how things are developing before we make a decision on this," Cutajar, who has only been in his post for the past two months, told The Times.
"So far, we have Nicole Pace and Kirsty Caruana who achieved the MQS for the Games while two others, Peppina Dalli and Adriana Zammit, are close to the required standards. All four are U-16 so we are tackling the issue carefully as we don't want them to represent the country in Cyprus and then get suspended by the FIG.
"The interests of our athletes and the local federation take precedence on all other matters."
The MOC is currently in the process of finalising its list of athletes for Cyprus. On Monday, the MOC will be meeting again at the Tal-Qroqq headquarters where a thorough analysis of all names supplied by federations will be made.
Last chance
Track and field athletes and swimmers will have the last opportunity to obtain the required MQS this weekend when Athletics Malta hosts its National Championships at Marsa while a time-trial meet is scheduled at the National Pool.
GSSE veteran Carol Walsh has given Team Malta a timely boost after hitting fine form to achieve a MQS in the 10,000m during an aggregate meet last week.
The Pembroke Athleta runner covered the distance in 36:57... over 30 seconds inside the set limit.
Meanwhile, the men's basketball team, coached by Bruno Dipietrantonio, suffered a huge blow when Luxol's Marko Matijevic had to quit the GSSE squad to nurse a fractured finger.
On the other hand, options for women's team coach Santino Coppa increased this week following the arrival of Ashligh Vella. The 18-year-old post, of Melbourne, has teamed up with the national team ahead of the Games.
After Cyprus, Vella is unlikely to play for Malta in the Pescara Mediterranean Games though as she is due to fly to the United States to join the Idaho College team.