Indoor opening sets off Iceland GSSE

The 2015 Games of the Small States of Europe got under way last night in unusual environs at the indoors Laugardal Sports Hall in Reykjavik.

This was an uncharacteristic opening for the Games after local organisers decided to hold the athletes’ parade and variety show indoors rather than at the Laugdalsvollur Stadium, the venue that was initially scheduled to host the curtain-raiser, due to a bad weather forecast.

The ceremony got off with the traditional march past that included most of the 706 athletes from the nine participating countries making way towards the packed venue behind their flag-bearing leader.

The Malta contingent, headed by president Julian Pace Bonello and chef-de-mission William Beck, were led by target shooter Eleonor Bezzina who carried the Malta flag.

Team Malta is formed of 58 athletes and they will represent the country in 10 different sport.

Inevitably, the biggest cheer from the stands on the night was reserved for the host nation.

Iceland boasts the biggest contingent in the Games with 240 athletes in all 11 sport scheduled. Basketball player Hlynur Baeringsson was their flag-bearer.

Luxembourg travelled with the second-largest group – 135 athletes – but Cyprus, the most successful country in the Games with 418 golds and 1,084 medals overall, presented themselves with a smaller team this time as they only have 55 athletes here.

Strangely, Cyprus decided not to participate in any of the team sport in Iceland.

Meanwhile, the main theme of the variety show produced by the hosts focused on natural power which characterises Iceland, namely fire, ice, water and gas.

Much of the entertainment was performed by local artists.

The highlight was when the Olympic torch was lit and Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson declared the 2015 Iceland Games open.

No high-ranking officials from the International Olympic Committee or the European Olympic Committee were present for yesterday’s ceremony.

Valhmor Camilleri travelled to Iceland thanks to the assistance of Medical Laboratory Services.

Maltese athletes in action today...

GSSE 2015 mascot Blossi.

Artistic Gymnastics
Women individual all-round and teams events.

Athletics (track and Field)
Matthew Crocker, Neil Brimmer (800m final), Charlotte Wingfield (100m), Kevin Moore (400m), Reece Dimech (400m), Janet Richard (400m), Francesca Borg (400m), Rebecca Camilleri (long jump final), Giselle Camilleri (10,000m final).

Basketball (women)
Malta vs Iceland

Beach volleyball (women)
Malta vs Monaco

Swimming
Julian Harding, Michael Umnov (200m butterfly)
Matthew Galea, Andrew Chetcuti (100m freestyle)
Michael Umnov (200m individual medley)

Table Tennis
Jessica Pace, Victoria Luchenkova (teams event)

Target Shooting
William Vella, Gianluca Azzopardi Spiteri (air rifle)
Alison Formosa (air rifle)

Tennis
Matthew Asciak, Bradley Callus (men’s singles, doubles preliminary rounds)
Elaine Genovese, Katrina Sammut (women’s singles, doubles)
Asciak/Genovese (mixed event quarter-finals)