The GSSE 2003 jigsaw setting in place

The International Executive of the Games of the Small States of Europe will be paying a visit to our islands to inspect the venues which are earmarked to be used for the forthcoming GSSE in Malta.

As a matter of fact, this visit is similar to the ones the International Olympic Committee organises to cities that have been entrusted with the organisation of important Games such as the Olympics, but on a minor scale. Even though these Games are small in nature, the protocol does not exempt our country from undergoing these routine inspections.

When a city, or a country is entrusted with such an event, the international bodies must be convinced that what had been pledged in the original bid can be delivered. When Malta won the right to host the Games in 2003, it promised a number of provisions including state of the art facilities, excellent hotels and an efficient transport system.

The Malta Olympic Committee is confident that it will pass the test with flying colours.

Government has pledged its commitment to the Games and the completion in summer of the Sports Hall at the University is ample proof that this time round, all venues will be ready prior to the start of the event itself.

Ten years ago, the country struggled to complete the new venues and even though it was alright on the night, the finishing touches dragged on till a few hours before the Games actually got underway.

Members from all the small states have already given the thumbs up to the choice of accommodation. Hotels in Malta tend to be well equipped to cater for a large number of guests and in June all the foreign athletes will be housed in one hotel, thus facilitating logistics and transportation.

In San Marino last year, all delegations were scattered across various hotels.

The Maltese contingent was staying in four different hotels and at times, this proved to be a nightmare as it was not an easy task summoning athletes and coaches to one venue for the daily contingent meeting.

Transport network system

Negotiations for the transport system are practically concluded and the organising committee has planned a comprehensive route of coaches and mini-vans operating from early morning to late in the night.

Transportation can often turn out to be the weakest link in the organisational process. Even the Americans got it wrong during the Olympic Games in Atlanta '96!

Now Malta is a very small island but it does have its fair share of horrendous traffic jams particularly during rush hours.

I have no doubt that the system envisaged by the organising committee has addressed all potential loopholes. Apparently an agreement has been struck with the Works Department not to have any new roadworks commencing during the week-long games.

So, practically we have the right formula in place. The thousand and one other logistics have been tackled and practically all issues have been finalised or are in the process of being concluded.

There is still one issue which worries me, however.

Some of our major roads are still riddled with potholes and in dire need of a major overhaul.

At least, I hope that the Burmarrad road would have been completed by late May.

It has been several months now since the works started and the finish date seems to be nowhere in sight.

The shooting range is at Bidnija and that road will frequently be used by shooters, journalists, officials and spectators alike. I dread to imagine what would happen if the road is still dug up during the Games.

Perhaps if the contractor is lured to work around the clock, seven days a week, the road works would be finished in no-time. We have to keep in mind that Malta boasted of an excellent road network in its promotional video which had a massive bearing on the delegates' vote in favour of our little island way back in 1999 in Vaduz, Liechtenstein.

And while some of our roads have been given a facelift, other major arteries still needed to be attended to.

Time is our greatest foe. We have to roll up our sleeves and get our act together.

Otherwise we are on the right track and we can safely predict that the forthcoming edition of the Games for the Small States of Europe in Malta will be the best edition ever.