2023 Games of the Small States of Europe

The 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe, also known as the XIX Games of the Small States of Europe or informally Malta 2023, is an upcoming sporting event, scheduled to be held in Valletta, Malta from 28 May to 3 June 2023.[3]

XIX Games of the Small States of Europe
Host cityValletta
CountryMalta Malta
Nations9 (expected)[1]
Athletes1000 (expected)[2]
Websitegssemalta2023.mt

Malta previously hosted the 1993 and 2003 editions of the Games.[1] The 2023 installation was originally planned to be the XX Games rather than the XIX Games,[4][5] but the 2021 edition in Andorra was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

Candidacy and preparation

In February 2017, Julian Pace Bonello, the president of the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC), announced that Malta would bid for the 2023 Games.[7]

In June 2021, after the Games in Andorra had been cancelled, Marti Mandinco, the president of the Andorran Olympic Committee, handed over the presidency of the Games to Bonello.[8]

In February 2022, the MOC officially launched the Games with Bonello saying he hoped the event would "make the country proud" and "serve as a catalyst to inspire young athletes".[1] Malta hosted the Games of the Small States of Europe Assembly in June 2022, approving the final sports programme for the Games.[9] The Maltese government committed to supporting the games and Maltese athletes with €5 million worth of funding through Sport Malta.[10]

Logo and mascot

In December 2021, the MOC and the Ministry for Education's Centre for Physical Education and Sport launched a design competition for the Games' logo and mascot, open to children aged 10 to 18.[2] Drawing inspiration from submissions, the logo was then designed by Concept Stadium and unveiled in June 2022 by Clifton Grima, the Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation.[11][12] The logo was said to "[merge] the famous Olympic rings with the sea, fish and a Maltese icon recognized by many - the eye symbol".[12] The eye symbol is present in several different parts of Maltese culture such as charms against the evil eye or as a mark of spiritual identity on luzzu (traditional Maltese fishing boats),[13] or on 'Il-Gardjola' (a distinctive watchtower in Senglea) representing guardianship and observance.[14] The logo's overlapping colours represent "Malta's values of diversity and inclusion".[12]

Games

Participating teams

Sports

The following competitions are expected to take place:[15][16]

2023 Games of the Small States of Europe Sports Programme

References
  1. Patrick Burke (20 February 2022). "Maltese Olympic Committee launches 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe". Inside the Games. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  2. Gozo News (December 2021). "Maltese E-Newsletter 402" (PDF). Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs. p. 9. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  3. "Next edition: 2023 Malta". Games of the Small States of Europe. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  4. "Malta to host 2023 Small Nations Games". Badminton Malta. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  5. "Malta to host Games of the Small States of Europe in 2023". The Malta Independent. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  6. "EOC Newsletter No. 208" (PDF). European Olympic Committees. December 2020. p. 3. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. "Government to hand €2.5m over 4 years to MOC for athletes' preparation - MOC planning bid to stage 2023 Games for European Small States". The Malta Independent on Sunday. 12 February 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  8. "Julian Pace Bonello declared president of 2023 Malta GSSE". Times of Malta. 11 June 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. Valhmor Camilleri (3 June 2022). "Games of the Small States of Europe Assembly hosted in Malta". Sports Desk. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  10. "€5 million for Sport Malta to prepare athletes for Small Nations Games 2023". Malta Daily. 15 June 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  11. Kurt Aquilina (13 June 2022). "Watch: Maltese Olympic Committee launch official logo for 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe". Sports Desk. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  12. "Official Logo for the 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe Launched". Maltese Olympic Committee. 13 June 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  13. Efthymia Akrivopoulou; Irene Munoz (2021). "Artistic and symbolic elements of the Maltese luzzu". Archaeonautica. 21: 337–339. doi:10.4000/archaeonautica.2832. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  14. "Gardjola Gardens". malta.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  15. Official website
  16. "Malta hosts Small States games in 2023 in hope for medals glory". Malta Today. 1 February 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
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