Every moment that shines through our life
Gives us power to be who we are
Reaching higher achieving our goals
It's the fuel that lights up our soul

Every nation, the big and the small
Are united in love and in sport
We are living this life to the core
Always giving a little bit more

Reaching higher
We can touch all our dreams
This desire
to believe and achieve
One voice... One choice...
To win at this game
Reaching higher...
To light up this flame

Every journey of hope we go through
Makes us wonder if we'll win or lose
Go the distance, and never look back
Fate will put us on the right track

And this moment, it's yours and it's mine
Let us hold it, forever in time
Feel the passion that flows through our heart
It's the prize for doing our part

Ira Losco's smooth voice will be another icon for the forthcoming Games of the Small States of Europe as the talented artiste has been chosen to sing the official theme of the Games.

Penned by Gerald James Borg and composed by Philip Vella, the song focuses on every athlete's dream to win at the Games.

It was officially launched yesterday at the Malta Olympic Committee headquarters in Tal-Qroqq and is expected to hit the airwaves over the weekend.

Just like Seventh Wonder, which gripped a nation and nearly put Malta on Europe's music map, Reaching Higher promises to do well on the market.

Games come and go but the song remains a vibrant legacy of what should be a memorable week for local sports.

Rogge to attend opening

The build-up to the Games has now gained momentum and even though the country is engaged in a heated debate over which party should be voted to power at the next general elections, ten billboards erected all over the island are a living testimony that there is more to life than politics.

In yesterday's official song launching, MOC president Lino Farrugia Sacco also took the opportunity to confirm that International Olympic Committee head Jacques Rogge will be in Malta for the opening ceremony of the GSSE 2003 on June 2.

Other distinguished personalities will be visiting the islands during the GSSE, including Prince Albert of Monaco.

The moment of truth

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm under the impression that the sporting public is hardly aware that our national team will be taking on mighty France in a qualifying match for EURO 2004. It may be the political campaign or the War in Iraq. Certainly, no one is expecting miracles.

I recall a similar situation when the national team was under Horst Heese's helm. In Malta, our boys were on the wrong side of an eight-nil roasting inflicted by the slick mastery of Dutch legend Marco Van Basten.

After the match, Heese went on record as saying that he did not even want to think about the away leg. Strangely enough, Malta played one of its best, albeit ultra-defensive, matches of all times and lost to a solitary goal that arrived courtesy of a disputed penalty.

Last October, our national team was outclassed by the slick French who cruised to an easy victory without exerting too much energy.

Football pundits reckon that the French should register one of their largest winning margins ever and it is now up to Sigfried Held to plot his tactics well if he wants to avoid a heavy defeat.

Local football is facing an uphill struggle and most of our top-flight matches are characterised by shoddy performances and this must be a worrying factor to our national coach who has to search high and low to find enough players who are putting on a good show in the league to don the national jersey.

I wouldn't be surprised if Held had to turn to the First Division to pick up new blood in the hope of finally managing a positive result in a competitive match.

If Held manages a good result in France, he will be hailed as a hero. If, on the other hand, our national team experiences a bumpy ride, it would be the same old story as we struggle to find a decent excuse to mask our inadequate show. The verdict will be delivered tomorrow night.