MOC to ask for increased funds to balance books

Participation in high-profile events stand out on the agenda with the most-anticipated appointments being the June 1-6 GSSE in Cyprus and the Mediterranean Games in Pescara a few weeks later.

The calendar also includes a debut in the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival in Poland between February 14 and 21.

The country will be represented by US-based snowboarder Jessica Lochtenberg.

Other major events in 2009 are the COJI Games in Sardegna in May, the EYOF Summer Games, in Tampere (July 18-25) and September's Mediterranean Friendship Games in Trapani.

Inevitably, participation alone will entail a huge financial expenditure for the MOC. Yesterday, president Lino Farrugia Sacco warned that his organisation could end 2009 in the red if they fail to get more funds from the government.

"This will be the busiest year in terms of participation in the next quadriennial," Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said.

"We shall figure in six major Games. That has taken expenditure beyond our total income for the next 12 months.

"According to our estimates we should be receiving over 710,000 euros in grants and other financial assistance. The sum is significant but that is still not enough to cover expenses. We calculate our costs to reach 793,278 euros. That will leave us with a deficit of over 82,000 euros.

"Ideally, it is not a situation we would like to find ourselves in and although we can still rely on our reserves to balance books, we intend to ask for an increase in our yearly grant from the government. We are hopeful that the authorities will give us a helping hand."

Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco said that after the excellent results of 2008, highlighted by William Chetcuti's eighth placing in the Olympics, the MOC was staying focused to make 2009 another success story for local sport.

"The GSSE and the Mediterranean Games are our major targets for 2009," he said.

"As regards the Games in Cyprus, our objective is a fourth place in the final medal standings. We have already reached that target in 2003, but that was in Malta. Now, we want to acquire that same position outside our shores.

"In the Mediterranean Games, we want to produce our best ever showing in this arena. To achieve that, we must improve on the edition of 1997, held in another Italian city, Bari. On that occasion we returned home with a silver and a bronze medal."

Unfair criticism

As regards the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival, the MOC president dismissed criticism on a local website aimed at Lochtenberg's participation.

"I was really disappointed to read comments on a recently published blog that disapproved our decision. That was unfair on us. The author tried to give the impression that we were attaining the services of a 'foreign' athlete in this case.

"But, it has to be pointed out that Jessica's mother is Maltese and, also, we have never hindered the participation of any of our athletes provided they had the standard required to compete. This has been happening since 1997 now.

"Looking at our recent showings in various events, it's clear that we have done a very good job in terms of preparation and results attained."

Meanwhile, it was revealed yesterday that the MOC and the Armed Forces of Malta are currently working closely to finalise a protocol that will see the locals compete in the military CISM Games in future.

Discussions are already underway so that a number of coaches will help military sportsmen/women prepare for these Games.