The Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) has just signed an agreement with three major local TV stations to start transmitting sports-related programmes in the build-up to the 2009 Games of the Small States of Europe.

The signing of contracts, held earlier this week at Tal-Qroqq, continues to boost the already-strong relations between the MOC and local media, Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, MOC president, said in a statement.

"The Maltese Olympic Committee is aware of the optimal relations with the local media and this was envisaged during the meetings held with managements of local television stations in view of Team Malta's Games of the Small States of Europe commitments next June in Cyprus," he said.

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said there was great co-operation between the parties concerned and the publicity to Team Malta will serve as an ideal build-up to the GSSE in Cyprus.

The agreements were signed by Edmund Tabone, PBS, Robert Francalanza, One TV, and Louiselle Vassallo, NetTV, also in the presence of MOC general secretary Joseph Cassar and MOC Director of Marketing Vincent Scicluna.