More selective funding for Beijing 2008 - MOC

The 2004 Athens Olympics left mixed emotions at the Malta Olympic Committee as yesterday a press briefing was held during which the performance of the seven Maltese representatives in Greece was discussed.

Officials again expressed delight at William Chetcuti's encouraging showing at the Markopoulo Shooting Centre where the 'Bidnija ace' finished ninth place overall.

When commenting on the performances of the other athletes in the contingent one common factor stood out... we can only aspire for satisfactory results with more resilience from the performers and a better financial support to prepare on true professional lines.

Marie Therese Zammit, Malta's chef-de-mission in Athens, gave a brief analysis of results achieved last month.

Swimmers Angela Galea and Neil Agius, who competed in the 100m butterfly and 400m freestyle respectively, both failed to improve on their personal bests. Zammit said they had a difficult build-up to the Games and for various weeks were unable to train at the National Pool due to prolonged maintenance works.

"It was very difficult for them to go to Athens motivated and in their best condition having missed so many weeks of training," Zammit said.

She added Mario Aquilina's poor showing in the Laser Class sailing competition was also unexpected.

"We expected a better overall placing than the 39th achieved," Zammit said. "Most of Aquilina's opponents were superior technically. They were better prepared. Clearly, this was a case where more funding would have seen our sailor faring much better than he actually did."

Zammit hailed the determination and courage of young Marcon Bezzina who despite facing the gold medal favourite in judo she did not show any signs of fear and bowed out of the competition with pride.

Darren Gilford achieved Malta's best result in athletics when he clocked 10.67 in the 100m heats.

Zammit reckoned that Gilford could have clocked a better time if he had the chance to exploit his explosive start to the maximum.

In Athens, however, the Pembroke Athleta sprinter had to be extra-cautious at the blocks as there were two false starts in his race which resulted in the disqualification of Trinidad's Marc Burns.

As regards Chetcuti much has already been said on his excellent performance.

Zammit said: "He was a whisker away from reaching the final and a possible challenge for a medal.

"Hopefully, in four years' time William will have more experience and confidence in his bags to become a real medal contender."

Malta's other representative in Athens was middle distance runner Tanya Blake. She lost pace half-way through the 800m heat and finished well off her personal best in a poor 2:19.34.

MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco did not hide his disappointment at the performance of the English-born athlete.

"We were simply shocked by that showing," he said. "There were better expectations from Blake, an athlete who 12 months earlier had qualified to the Olympics on her own merits with a far superior time.

"We still have not found out the true reason for such an upset. Blake said she made contact with another runner during the race and lost rhythm... we are not satisfied with that excuse alone, however."

Policy change

There was general consensus at the MOC that a creditable performance at the Olympic Games should be the main target of Maltese athletes in future. To achieve that goal a change in policy will be implemented.

"We are working on a very limited budget when compared to others," Judge Farrugia Sacco said. "We all have to understand that satisfactory results are only achieved if our athletes get adequate backing from the authorities.

"At the MOC we have now decided that new MQSs will be introduced and only those who prove they have reached the level to compete in the Olympics will travel to Beijing.

"That could also mean that we will not necessarily accept all invitations (wild cards) offered to us by the IOC on the concept of 'universality'.

"If our aspiring athletes do not hold the standard required they will not participate. This is a bold step, we know, but in this way we can focus more deeply on those with a real chance of success."

MOC Director of Sport David Azzopardi said that apart from the necessity of having extra funds available, there must be a change in athletes' approach.

"Unfortunately, very few have a long-term vision in their careers," Azzopardi said. "Many will tell you they will wait to analyse results at the GSSE and then decide whether to prepare or not for the Olympics.

"There has to be greater ambition. Having tasted the feeling of competing at the biggest sporting event in the world, Maltese athletes should be brimming with enthusiasm and confidence for the next Games four years later.

"It's about time our athletes start aiming higher than the GSSE."