2007 Games of the Small States of Europe
Encyclopedia
The 2007 Games of the Small States of Europe, or the XIIth Games of the Small States of Europe, were held in Monaco
from 4 June to 9 June 2007. The Games administration was done jointly by the Monegasque government and Monegasque Olympic Committee. Monaco has previously hosted the games in 1987. Prince Albert II officially opened the Games.
without all eligible nations competing. All countries to have previously participated returned; however, Montenegro
– which joined the Athletic Association of the Small States of Europe in 2006 – did not send competitors to the 2007 Games. Delegations, including coaches and team officials, of up to 1,200 people were expected at the 2007 games. These delegations came from the host nation of Monaco as well as Andorra
, Cyprus
, Iceland
, Liechtenstein
, Luxembourg
, Malta
, and San Marino
.
and Cycling
have been removed from the games; however, the volleyball discipline has been separated into beach and traditional, and bowls
and gymnastics
are making their first appearances in the games.
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each sport.
.
Many of the events will also be held in Fontvieille. Stade Louis II
, the usual home of AS Monaco, will host athletics, basketball, swimming, and table tennis events. The shooting events will take place indoors on the upper floors of a building in the center of the district as well.
Gymnastics will take place in the Canton Hall, a large event complex in Monaco. Volleyball will take place in the Moneghetti
Sports Complex, which is technically in French
territory.. Judo events will also be held at an all-purpose gymnasium, the Annonciade Gymnasium. Bowls events are to be held at the Rocher. Tennis will be held in the Monte Carlo
district at a prominent country club.
Additionally, many of events in the 2007 Games will take advantage of Monaco’s close proximity to the sea. Beach volleyball events will be held on the most prominent beach in Monaco, Larvotto
. Sailing events will take place in the Bay of Monaco, an extension of the Mediterranean Sea
.
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...
from 4 June to 9 June 2007. The Games administration was done jointly by the Monegasque government and Monegasque Olympic Committee. Monaco has previously hosted the games in 1987. Prince Albert II officially opened the Games.
Overview and participation
The 2007 Games were the first 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...
without all eligible nations competing. All countries to have previously participated returned; however, Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
– which joined the Athletic Association of the Small States of Europe in 2006 – did not send competitors to the 2007 Games. Delegations, including coaches and team officials, of up to 1,200 people were expected at the 2007 games. These delegations came from the host nation of Monaco as well as 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
, 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...
.
Competitions
Competitions in the 2007 Games will be held in twelve disciplines; making it the most diverse Games yet. TaekwondoTaekwondo
Taekwondo is a Korean martial art and the national sport of South Korea. In Korean, tae means "to strike or break with foot"; kwon means "to strike or break with fist"; and do means "way", "method", or "path"...
and Cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
have been removed from the games; however, the volleyball discipline has been separated into beach and traditional, and bowls
Bowls
Bowls is a sport in which the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so that they stop close to a smaller "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a pitch which may be flat or convex or uneven...
and gymnastics
Gymnastics
Gymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
are making their first appearances in the games.
Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of medal events contested in each sport.
Highlights
- Two Maltese sailing competitors, Thomas Tabona and Ella Soler, were 13 and 14 years old respectively.
- Interestingly, landlocked San Marino won a silver medal in sailing.
Medal Count
| 1 |  Cyprus |
36 | 33 | 24 | 93 |
| 2 |  Iceland |
31 | 23 | 24 | 78 |
| 3 |  Luxembourg |
20 | 25 | 36 | 81 |
| 4 |  Monaco |
19 | 16 | 17 | 52 |
| 5 |  Malta |
4 | 9 | 17 | 30 |
| 6 |  Andorra |
4 | 6 | 7 | 17 |
| 7 |  San Marino |
4 | 6 | 6 | 16 |
| 8 |  Liechtenstein |
3 | 5 | 5 | 13 |
Venues
The 2007 Games will be using a docked cruise ship as an athlete’s village for all delegations. The ship will be docked along the sea wall in FontvieilleFontvieille, Monaco
Fontvieille is the newest of the four traditional quarters in the principality of Monaco, and one of ten Wards for modern administrative purposes. It is located in the western part of Monaco...
.
Many of the events will also be held in Fontvieille. Stade Louis II
Stade Louis II
The Stade Louis II is a stadium located in the Fontvieille district of Monaco. It serves primarily as a venue for football, being the home of AS Monaco and the Monaco national football team, as well as the location of the annual UEFA Super Cup match...
, the usual home of AS Monaco, will host athletics, basketball, swimming, and table tennis events. The shooting events will take place indoors on the upper floors of a building in the center of the district as well.
Gymnastics will take place in the Canton Hall, a large event complex in Monaco. Volleyball will take place in the Moneghetti
Moneghetti
Moneghetti is one of 5 of the principality of Monaco, and is one of 10 administrative Ward in the traditional quartier of La Condamine. It is considered to be more of a quit residential neighborhood rather than La Condamine, but it .-Demographics:...
Sports Complex, which is technically in French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
territory.. Judo events will also be held at an all-purpose gymnasium, the Annonciade Gymnasium. Bowls events are to be held at the Rocher. Tennis will be held in the Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo
Monte Carlo is an administrative area of the Principality of Monaco....
district at a prominent country club.
Additionally, many of events in the 2007 Games will take advantage of Monaco’s close proximity to the sea. Beach volleyball events will be held on the most prominent beach in Monaco, Larvotto
Larvotto
Larvotto is a south eastern residential area, and is part of the traditional quartier of Monte Carlo in the principality of Monaco. It is also one of the 10 modern administrative Wards of Monaco.-Demographics:...
. Sailing events will take place in the Bay of Monaco, an extension of the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
.