The stage is set for the GSSE 2025, or the Games of the Small States of Europe. These will officially open this evening at the Andorra National Stadium. The Maltese Herald will be bringing you regular coverage of this important event in the national sporting calendar
Malta will be represented by a strong contingent of 108 athletes competing across 11 disciplines in GSSE 2025. These are: Athletics, Artistic Swimming, Basketball 3×3, Cycling, Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic), Karate, Rugby 7s, Shooting, Swimming, Table Tennis, and Tennis. Competitions will take place across seven locations in the Principality—Andorra la Vella, La Massana, Ordino, Canillo, Encamp, Escaldes–Engordany, and Sant Julià de Lòria.
During a media briefing held earlier today in Andorra, Charlene Attard, Director of Sport at the Maltese Olympic Committee, shared the team’s overarching goal—to surpass Malta’s best-ever GSSE performance abroad, achieved in 2011 in Liechtenstein with a medal tally of 8 gold, 12 silver, and 7 bronze.
Malta aiming for 9 Gold medals at GSSE2025
Attard outlined the MOC’s medal projections, highlighting high expectations across several disciplines. She expressed her satisfaction and confidence in Team Malta’s athletes, many of whom are showing strong potential. Athletics was singled out as a particularly promising area, with Attard voicing full confidence in the athletes representing Athletics Malta. In cycling, attention will be on the Pratt sisters—particularly Jessica Pratt in the time trial—while Aiden Buttigieg is expected to lead the men’s efforts. In mountain biking, Mark Bonnici will step in to compete following the withdrawal of Stefan Scerri due to personal reasons.
Expectations are also high in the team sports. Malta aims for a podium finish in men’s Rugby 7s, with a semi-final berth set as the minimum target. Meanwhile, the men’s Basketball 3×3 tournament faced a last-minute reshuffle following Monaco’s withdrawal, resulting in a three-team contest between Malta, Andorra, and Cyprus, with only gold and silver medals now up for grabs.
Providing an update on team logistics, Chef de Mission Daniel Tanti Farrugia confirmed that only two Rugby 7s players had yet to arrive in Andorra. Their arrival is expected later this evening. Technical meetings for several disciplines, including karate and shooting, have already begun, with others continuing throughout the day.
MOC Director of Media and PR, Maria Vella-Galea, announced that coverage of the Games will be broadcast locally on PBS’ sports channel TVMSport+. For the first time, the Games will also be streamed live on EOCTV.org, made possible through a collaboration between the European Olympic Committees (EOC) and ANOC TV. This partnership not only ensures greater visibility for athletes but also delivers digital media support to all nine participating National Olympic Committees.
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