2003 Games of the Small States of Europe
Encyclopedia
The 2003 Games of the Small States of Europe, or the Xth Games of the Small States of Europe, were held in Valletta
, Malta
from June 2 to June 7, 2003. Valletta previously hosted the games in 1993. Malta was not due to host the Games again until 2009, but a strong bid helped them to gain the games six years early. Administration of the games was done jointly by the Maltese Ministry of Education and the Malta Olympic Committee
. The games were declared open by President Guido de Marco
on June 2.
was attended by all of the eligible nations. Eligible nations are European states with fewer than 1 million citizens. 820 total athletes from the eight eligible nations competed, the highest ever; 803 attended the 1993 Games in Malta and the 2005 Games in Andorra
had 793 participants. Host nation Malta had 156 athletes, the most of any nation. Cyprus
had 143 participants of their own. The Iceland
ic delegation was 133 participants. Luxembourg
also had over 100 representatives with 113. Monaco
and San Marino
came with 89 and 78 athletes, respectively. Andorra
brought 66 participants, less than half of the total they would bring to the 2005 games. Liechtenstein
had the smallest delegation, bringing only 42 athletes.
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each sport.
, a Maltese singer who had gained prominence in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002
representing Malta.
The mascot of the 2003 Games was Elmo, a cartoon-illustrated Pikeman. The official descriptions of Elmo state that he was chosen as mascot because Pikemen, as well as athletes, both need “a combination of physical preparation and a strong will to achieve success.”
The official emblem for the 2003 Games is based around eight points. These eight points have two meanings: they resemble the Maltese Cross, a traditional symbol of Malta, and represent the eight competing members of the Games of the Small States of Europe. The logos colours incorporate the colours of the flags of participant nations.
.
Adjacent to the Swimming Complex, and also on the University campus, was the sports complex where basketball games were held. Both events were in Msida
, near Valletta. Tennis and squash were held at the sporting in club in Marsa, south of Valletta. Also located in Marsa is the Maltese National Athletics Stadium, known as the Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium.
Athletics events were held at the stadium, which underwent upgrades in preparation for the Games. Judo took place in the Sporting Pavilion at St. Aloysius’ College in Birkirkara
. Interestingly, the volleyball events took place at two different locations in two different cities. Women’s volleyball took place at the Cottonera Sports Complex in Cospicua
. Men’s volleyball took place in the Corradino Sports Complex in Paola
, a few miles south.
Among the events held further from Valletta were the sailing events. Sailing events took place in at St. Paul's Bay
, northwest of Valletta, at the New Dolmen Beach Resort. Shooting events took place west of Valletta in Bidnija
.
All events but one took place on Malta, this being table tennis that was held at the Gozo Sports Complex in Rabat, also known as Victoria, Malta
.
Valletta
Valletta is the capital of Malta, colloquially known as Il-Belt in Maltese. It is located in the central-eastern portion of the island of Malta, and the historical city has a population of 6,098. The name "Valletta" is traditionally reserved for the historic walled citadel that serves as Malta's...
, Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
from June 2 to June 7, 2003. Valletta previously hosted the games in 1993. Malta was not due to host the Games again until 2009, but a strong bid helped them to gain the games six years early. Administration of the games was done jointly by the Maltese Ministry of Education and the Malta Olympic Committee
Malta Olympic Committee
Malta Olympic Committee is the National Olympic Committee representing Malta. The Maltese name is Kumitat Olimpiku Malti.-2012 Olympics:The Maltese Olympic organisation have appointed THG Sports Tours as their agents for the 2012 Olympics....
. The games were declared open by President Guido de Marco
Guido de Marco
Guido de Marco was a Maltese politician, who served as the sixth President of Malta from 1999 to 2004. A noted statesman and lawmaker, de Marco also served as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Interior, Justice, and Minister for Foreign Affairs.He is widely regarded as one of the great...
on June 2.
Overview and participation
The 2003 edition of the Games of the Small States of EuropeGames of the Small States of Europe
The Games of the Small States of Europe is a biennial, multi-sport event, launched by the Republic of San Marino, organized by and featuring the National Olympic Committees of eight European small states since 1985...
was attended by all of the eligible nations. Eligible nations are European states with fewer than 1 million citizens. 820 total athletes from the eight eligible nations competed, the highest ever; 803 attended the 1993 Games in Malta and the 2005 Games in Andorra
2005 Games of the Small States of Europe
The 2005 Games of the Small States of Europe, or the XIth Games of the Small States of Europe, were held in Andorra la Vella, Andorra from May 30 to June 4, 2005. Andorra la Vella previously hosted the games in 1991. Administration of the games was done jointly by the Andorran government and the...
had 793 participants. Host nation Malta had 156 athletes, the most of any nation. Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
had 143 participants of their own. The Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
ic delegation was 133 participants. Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
also had over 100 representatives with 113. Monaco
Monaco
Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the...
and San Marino
San Marino
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino...
came with 89 and 78 athletes, respectively. Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
brought 66 participants, less than half of the total they would bring to the 2005 games. Liechtenstein
Liechtenstein
The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan...
had the smallest delegation, bringing only 42 athletes.
Competitions
Competitions in the 2003 Games were held in ten disciplines.Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each sport.
Themes and mascots
The theme song of the 2003 Games of the Small States was called “Reaching Higher” and continued in with the traditional themes of such music for international competitions. “Reaching Higher” was performed at the opening ceremonies by Ira LoscoIra Losco
Ira Losco is a singer and was on born 31 July 1981 in Sliema, Malta.With a string of number 1 singles and albums, Ira Losco is one of the best selling artists in Malta.-Tiara:...
, a Maltese singer who had gained prominence in the Eurovision Song Contest 2002
Eurovision Song Contest 2002
The Eurovision Song Contest 2002 was the 47th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. It took place on 25 May 2002 at the Saku Suurhall Arena in Tallinn, Estonia....
representing Malta.
The mascot of the 2003 Games was Elmo, a cartoon-illustrated Pikeman. The official descriptions of Elmo state that he was chosen as mascot because Pikemen, as well as athletes, both need “a combination of physical preparation and a strong will to achieve success.”
The official emblem for the 2003 Games is based around eight points. These eight points have two meanings: they resemble the Maltese Cross, a traditional symbol of Malta, and represent the eight competing members of the Games of the Small States of Europe. The logos colours incorporate the colours of the flags of participant nations.
Highlights
- Cypriot sprinter Anninos MarcoullidesAnninos MarcoullidesAnninos Marcoullides is a retired Cypriot sprinter who specialized in 100 and 200 metre races...
won his final medals in the Games of the Small States, winning the 100 m and 200 m double. His total medal count in the Games stands at 12. - Björn Margeirsson of Iceland ended Andorran middle distance runner Victor Martínez’s dominance of the 1500 m; Martínez had won the previous three titles and also went on to win the 2005 title.
- Andorran long distance runner Toni Bernardó won a double of his own, winning the men’s 5,000 m and 10,000 m.
- Men’s hurdling events were not held at the 2003 Games. Morfo Baourda of Cyprus won the women’s 100 m hurdles.
- Cyprus beat Iceland in men’s basketball despite 26 points in the final for Damon Johnson in a losing effort. Cyprus also did well in the women’s basketball competition, winning a silver medal as Malta won the gold in dominating fashion.
- In Volleyball, Cyprus won both the men’s and women’s gold medals. Luxembourg and San Marino also had success. Luxembourg took the silver in women’s and the bronze in men’s competition; San Marino took the silver in men’s and the bronze in women’s.
- Iceland was upset in both 4x100 m swimming relays. Luxembourg won the women's event, and Cyprus won the men's. The Icelandic relay teams were silver medalists in each.
Medal count
| 1 |  CyprusCyprus Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the... |
34 | 20 | 27 | 81 |
| 2 |  LuxembourgLuxembourg Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south... |
21 | 17 | 15 | 53 |
| 3 |  IcelandIceland Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population... |
20 | 24 | 23 | 67 |
| 4 |  MaltaMalta Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in... |
11 | 18 | 15 | 44 |
| 5 |  MonacoMonaco Monaco , officially the Principality of Monaco , is a sovereign city state on the French Riviera. It is bordered on three sides by its neighbour, France, and its centre is about from Italy. Its area is with a population of 35,986 as of 2011 and is the most densely populated country in the... |
7 | 7 | 10 | 24 |
| 6 |  San MarinoSan Marino San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino , is a state situated on the Italian Peninsula on the eastern side of the Apennine Mountains. It is an enclave surrounded by Italy. Its size is just over with an estimated population of over 30,000. Its capital is the City of San Marino... |
6 | 10 | 9 | 25 |
| 7 |  AndorraAndorra Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of... |
4 | 6 | 8 | 18 |
| 8 |  LiechtensteinLiechtenstein The Principality of Liechtenstein is a doubly landlocked alpine country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to the west and south and by Austria to the east. Its area is just over , and it has an estimated population of 35,000. Its capital is Vaduz. The biggest town is Schaan... |
2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Venues
Most of the events were concentrated in and around Valletta, but very few took place in Valletta proper. Swimming events took place at the National Swimming Pool Complex, which is also where the official offices of the Malta Olympic Committee are located. The swimming complex is under the scope of the University of MaltaUniversity of Malta
The University of Malta is the highest educational institution in Malta Europe and is one of the most respected universities in Europe. The University offers undergraduate Bachelor's Degrees, postgraduate Master's Degrees and postgraduate Doctorates .-History:The University of Malta was founded in...
.
Adjacent to the Swimming Complex, and also on the University campus, was the sports complex where basketball games were held. Both events were in Msida
Msida
Msida or Imsida is a harbour town in Malta with a population of 7,623 . The town is located just west of Valletta on the northeast coast of Malta. The town enjoys a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry, sunny summers and short, cool winters.The neighbouring towns of Msida are Ta' Xbiex, Gzira, San...
, near Valletta. Tennis and squash were held at the sporting in club in Marsa, south of Valletta. Also located in Marsa is the Maltese National Athletics Stadium, known as the Matthew Micallef St. John Athletics Stadium.
Athletics events were held at the stadium, which underwent upgrades in preparation for the Games. Judo took place in the Sporting Pavilion at St. Aloysius’ College in Birkirkara
Birkirkara
Birkirkara or B'Kara is a city of 25,858 inhabitants in central Malta. It is the most populated town on the island and consists of four autonomous parishes: St Helen, St Joseph, Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St Mary. It also houses one of the most famous colleges in Malta, St Aloysius' College...
. Interestingly, the volleyball events took place at two different locations in two different cities. Women’s volleyball took place at the Cottonera Sports Complex in Cospicua
Cospicua
Ċittà Cottonera, Ċittà Cospicua, Cospicua is a double-fortified harbour city on the Mediterranean island of Malta. It is the largest of the Three Cities. It was also given a title as Citta' Cottonera, but erroneously the title is now used to define the whole region...
. Men’s volleyball took place in the Corradino Sports Complex in Paola
Paola, Malta
Paola, , is a town in the Grand Harbour area of Malta, with a population of 8,856 people . It is named after its founder, the Grandmaster Antoine de Paule, but is commonly known as Raħal Ġdid, which means new town in Maltese.Paola is renowned for its shopping centres, Good Friday procession, its...
, a few miles south.
Among the events held further from Valletta were the sailing events. Sailing events took place in at St. Paul's Bay
St. Paul's Bay
Saint Paul's Bay is a town in Malta, situated in the north east of the island of Malta, sixteen kilometres from the capital city Valletta.Its name refers to the shipwreck of Saint Paul, as documented in the Acts of the Apostles, due to the tradition that Saint Paul was shipwrecked on the isles,...
, northwest of Valletta, at the New Dolmen Beach Resort. Shooting events took place west of Valletta in Bidnija
Bidnija
The village of Bidnija is situated on a rural hamlet in the central northern part of Malta, and home to 308 people which means that it is the second smallest village in the Maltese islands after Mdina...
.
All events but one took place on Malta, this being table tennis that was held at the Gozo Sports Complex in Rabat, also known as Victoria, Malta
Victoria, Malta
Victoria or Città Victoria is the capital of Gozo, an island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The town has a total population of 6,414 , and by population is the largest locality in Gozo....
.