As Malta's elite athletes proudly march behind the Maltese flag during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Manchester, a new page will be written in the history of local sports administration as the first ever female Chef-De-Mission in such a high-profile event will experience her baptism of fire.

Marie-Therese Zammit will be in charge of the Maltese delegation during the Games. Even though Marie-Therese and I have been colleagues on the Executive Board of the Malta Olympic Committee for nearly two years, this was the first time that we had a frank conversation on her involvement in sports administration and what eventually led her to stand for the post of Director on the MOC's Executive Board.

Marie-Therese's childhood was not exactly sport-oriented. She did play netball while at secondary school but that was just about it. She eventually tried her luck at playing basketball but this was met by some stubborn resistance from her parents who were more interested in seeing their daughter making inroads in academic circles.

But a genuine love for sport had been nurtured and once she made it to the Sixth Form, nothing could keep her away from practising various sports.

She recalls with a smile her attempts at mustering the basics of athletics, volleyball, table-tennis and even billiards. In the early 70s, men used to frown at the idea of having a young lady wielding a billiard stick.

Despite this wide spectrum of sporting disciplines, basketball became her most favourite sport. All of a sudden, her early interest in netball vanished as the speed and thrill of basketball soon became a passion.

She was soon engaged by the University Basketball team. Love blossoms in the late teens and Marie-Therese eventually tied the knot. Family chores meant that her love for sport had to lie dormant for some years before it was rekindled thanks to the efforts of the late Guzi Fava who founded a social club for married women.

She took to the court after a 10-year absence and her rusty joints soon acclimatised with the pace of the game. Sooner rather than later she found herself in the thick of administration, becoming the secretary of the club and eventually a council member of the Malta Basketball Association (MBA). Marie-Therese found herself in a male-dominated environment, a challenge she took up and passed with flying colours.

She was one of the front runners to give the women's basketball team its due credit. Her work did not go unnoticed as she was elected vice-president of the MBA in July 1997.

Her list of credentials made her one of the most seasoned officials in the Basketball Association and it came as no surprise when she submitted her nomination for a post on the Executive Board of the MOC. She admits that she was surprised at her election but her reputation was further confirmed when she was appointed assistant to Pippo Psaila, the Director of Sport.

At the Malta Olympic Committee, Marie-Therese soon realised the tall order of her designation. She attends meetings, monitors athletes' progress and maintains a constant communication flow between the MOC and the respective national associations and federations.

She had a pretty good idea of what the Small Nations Games involve as she had attended both the 1995 and 1997 edition as a basketball official.

However, in San Marino last year, it was a different story as Marie-Therese was working alongside Pippo Psaila usually for some 16 hours a day with hardly enough time to grab a mid-day snack.

As assistant Chef-De-Mission, Marie-Therese grasped the true picture of the duties of the head of a contingent. Apart from lengthy meetings, this entails tasks ranging from simple travelling arrangements and accommodation to more complex assignments like verifying the athletes' eligibility to compete at the Games.

Although it was a hectic time, it also proved to be a valuable experience.

When the MOC Executive Board was discussing the Commonwealth Games, her nomination for Chef-De-Mission was greeted with unanimous approval.

For the past three months, Marie-Therese has been busy at the MOC's offices preparing for the big day.

She is aware that all eyes will be on her to deliver during the Games. She will ultimately be the contingent's leader and at times that also means making difficult decisions.

But with her drive and experience, Marie-Therese Zammit should pass the test with flying colours.

A hearty good luck to all the athletes and officials who will be vying to make Malta proud in Manchester.

Setting the record straight

Last week I highlighted the plight of local journalists when it comes to producing documentaries and reports away from our shores.

I erroneously forgot to mention my good friend Lewis Portelli who was one of the pioneers of sport journalism in Malta.

Through his extensive network of contacts built over the years, Lewis has managed to get exclusive interviews with some of the world's leading sports personalities accompanied by original footage.

These tapes and recordings are the legacy of more than five decades of sterling work in sports journalism. Maybe one day someone will realise the idea of founding a museum depicting the history of sports journalism.

The project would be a living tribute to all those who made sports journalism possible along the years.