Autonomy-seeking MOC sticks to its guns

The international executive committee of the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) has expressed concern about the repercussions the impasse between the Malta Olympic Committee (MOC), the government and the Malta Sports Council (KMS) could have on this year's games as well as on the long term.

This year's games will be staged in Andorra between May 30 and June 4.

This concern was conveyed to the MOC after last week it threatened to pull out of all international competitions, including the GSSE and the Mediterranean Games, unless it secures full autonomy from the government with regard to the administration of funds earmarked for the athletes' technical preparation.

At a news conference held at the MOC offices in Tal-Qroqq, yesterday Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, the MOC president, said Raymond Hastert, the secretary general of the GSSE's executive committee, views Malta's possible withdrawal from the Andorra games as a risk to the overall future of the contest.

"Last Monday, we asked that the GSSE executive committee would give us more time to make our first deposit for participation in the Andorra games as we were not in a position to effect the payment by the deadline," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

"In his reply, sent by e-mail to our general secretary, Joseph Cassar, Mr Hastert said that if Malta's participation in the next games remains in serious jeopardy, all national Olympic committees will have to be informed urgently as a special meeting of the executive committee could then become indispensable, given the risk such a situation could pose to the overall future of the GSSE.

"If we drop out of this year's games, the Andorra organising committee would have to revise its competition schedule as more than half of the events would have to be scrapped."

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco insisted that the MOC cannot fully adhere to the Sports Law and allow the KMS to retain full responsibility over the athletes' preparations for international events as this is in breach of the Olympic Charter.

"The Olympic Charter clearly decrees that the organisation, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisations. The national Olympic committees (NOC) have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games and at regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronised by the IOC," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco explained.

"The MOC is prepared to give the KMS access to its financial accounts but we must protect the MOC's integrity and freedom in its administration.

"This is also enshrined in the Olympic Charter which stipulates that the NOCs must preserve their autonomy and resist all pressures of any kind."

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco warned that if the laws of the country prevent the MOC from following the Olympic Charter or other bodies hamper the NOC's activity, the International Olympic Committee's executive board could intervene and make the appropriate decisions for the protection of the Olympic movement in the country. These include suspension or withdrawal of recognition.

"That said, I sincerely hope we do not come to such a situation as the consequences could be very serious," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco stressed.

Suggestions that the MOC had failed to specify which parts of the sports law did not comply with the Olympic Charter when the law was being discussed, were strongly rebuffed by him.

"Several letters in which we pointed out the articles that needed to be changed were sent to the authorities when the sports law was being debated," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

He added that the sports federations were unable to proceed with their training programmes because the KMS was withholding the funds and questioning the MOC's contracts with its members. "The KMS is currently objecting to a refund of the sum of Lm21,000 which accounts for diverse expenses incurred by federations. So far, we haven't received a clear explanation why the KMS is refusing to pay out," he said.

"We have only been told that 'no funding can be allowed which clearly results in tax evasion' but having examined these receipts time and again we have found no irregularities.

"The KMS has also pledged to allocate money for our projects in order to ensure business continuity. But I would like to point out that the sum of Lm61,000 that was to cover 2003 was only received in February 2004, the first Lm70,000 instalment for 2004 was delayed until July and the final Lm40,000 from last year's budget was made available last week. How can the MOC draw up long-term plans when we have to contend with such a scenario?"

"Last week, the government had assured us that the MOC will enjoy full freedom in the administration of funds but only a few hours after the meeting the KMS insisted it had received no such instructions.

"The MOC can no longer tolerate this situation and we have every intention of pulling out of international events if these problems are not solved. This would be a huge blow not only to Maltese sport but also to the country's international image," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco warned.