GSSE preparations on track

Preparations for the 2003 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), to be held in Malta between June 2 and 7, are on track, international officials from the GSSE Technical Commission said yesterday.

The international approval of the progress made by the GSSE 2003 Organising Committee was expressed by the members of the technical commission delegation at the end of a two-day visit during which they were shown around the venues for next June's Games.

The technical commission members visiting Malta over the past two days were Raymond Hastart, Remo Raimondi and Manuel Fernandez. Pippo Psaila, the director of the GSSE Malta 2003, is also a member of the technical commission.

Also touring the venues were the chefs-de-mission of the eight participating nations in the GSSE, namely Malta, Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco and San Marino.

The delegates, who arrived in Malta on Friday, also held a series of meetings with officials from the Malta GSSE Organising Committee.

Yesterday, the delegates inspected the following venues: National Pool Complex (swimming), University Sports Hall (basketball), Cottonera Multi-sports complex (volleyball, men), Corradino Sports Hall (volleyball, ladies), Marsa Athletics Stadium, Marsa Sports Club (tennis, squash), St Aloysius Complex (judo) and the Bidnija Shooting Range.

At a news conference at the New Dolmen Hotel later in the evening, the official uniforms to be worn by GSSE officials and volunteers as well as the Maltese athletes' competition gear were launched.