Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1500237
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 28 MAY 2023 NEWS KURT SANSONE MALTA is welcoming more than 1,000 athletes and offi- cials, who are participating in the Games of the Small States of Europe that start tomorrow. Added to these are at least 30 foreign journalists, a number of high profile dignitaries and sup- porters who have travelled to Malta for the week-long games. This is the third-time Mal- ta will host the small nations games that bring together ath- letes from Europe's nine small- est countries, including Malta. But the GSSE is only one of a trio of international sporting events that are expected to cre- ate a month-long sports tour- ism bonanza. Malta will also host the IPF World Classic Open Powerlift- ing Championship between 11 June and 18 June, and the UE- FA Under-19 Championship between 3 July and 16 July. The economic spinoff of these sporting events cannot be un- derestimated with the Malta Olympic Committee estimat- ing that the GSSE alone will in- crease the total number of bed nights by 30%. Just a week later, the power- lifting championship is also expected to attract some 1,500 athletes, officials, coaches, physiotherapists and relatives, according to organiser Mauro Gasan, managing director at Madletiks Ltd, a company spe- cialising in attracting interna- tional sports events to Malta. "We currently have 538 con- firmed athletes, coming from 70 different countries in what is being billed as the biggest ever event the IPF has record- ed in its history," Gasan said. "This is a prestigious event and it is estimated that it will gen- erate more than €2.5 million in the Maltese economy." But there is also the unquan- tifiable spinoff from such an event in the form of free adver- tising for Malta through wide- spread international media coverage, Gasan added. The powerlifting champion- ship will be transmitted live on Eurosport 1 with a potential audience of 600 million views in 53 countries in Europe, eight in Asia and South America. The UEFA U19 Tournament to be held at the start of July will also be broadcast in most European countries, including participants Italy, Spain, Por- tugal, Poland, Iceland, Greece, and Norway. Malta as the host country will also participate. Malta Football Associa- tion Secretary-general Ange- lo Chetcuti said that Malta's original bid three years ago to host these finals was intended for the 2024 edition. However, with some associations with- drawing their bids in the wake of the pandemic, Malta won the right to host the tourna- ment a year earlier. "This choice reflects a level of trust enjoyed by the MFA at UEFA level," Chetcuti said, adding that such a tournament gives "invaluable promotion" to the country. He said the tournament will see the participation of 160 players. "These players are part of the elite pool of the most tal- ented players in their age group in Europe and represent the fu- ture of European football." The players will also be ac- companied by technical, med- ical, and other supporting staff. Each country will also have supporters who will be travel- ling to Malta. "Football already generates thousands of bed nights per year, and this event will better those numbers," Chetcuti said. Sports is a growing niche in Malta's tourism product. It at- tracts "a different type of tour- ist", Tourism Minister Clayton Bartolo said when unveiling VisitMalta's sponsorship of the Giro d'Italia, Italy's world-fa- mous cycling competition, ear- lier this month. "By hosting sports events and providing facilities for visitors, Malta can continue attract- ing international athletes and coaches, which can help to raise the standard of sports in the country," the minister had said. A novelty destination Sports tourism was only re- cently included by the Malta Tourism Authority in its strat- egy and Mauro Gasan believes that Malta's attraction is its novelty as a destination for sports events. "In view of the fact that such sports entities are all the time looking for new destinations, Malta, is like uncharted waters for any sports organisation, thus making it very attractive," Gasan said. But size and moderate weath- er also matter, he added. "The fact that we are small is also very attractive. The IPF event in Malta will be the first time where athletes will not be re- quired to travel between the venue of the competition and the hotel thus eliminating complex logistical problems and reducing the carbon foot- print of the event." He also underscored the qual- ity of the country's infrastruc- ture, which often comes as a surprise to international sports bodies. In other instances, such as a major football tournament like the UEFA U19 Championship, it is not just the quality of the facilities but also the number available that matter. "This is probably the biggest final tournament we could host, given the nature of the event," Chetcuti said but the MFA, he added, "will always be open to opportunities to host events of an international na- ture". Legacy and investment But the success of sporting events should not be measured only through sporting achieve- ments and economic growth, according to the MOC spokes- person. The small nations games have spurred an investment to the tune of €60 million into sport- ing facilities that will continue being used by Maltese athletes. "While Malta is vying for its highest-ever medal tally since the inception of the GSSE… to be fully declared a success these games should be able to create a long-lasting lega- cy that provides Malta with changed attitudes as to how sport is viewed," the MOC said. Mauro Gasan believes that for Malta to continue to attract in- ternational sporting events in- vestment from the private and public sectors has to keep grow- ing. "The authorities need to help more private companies when it comes to sports tour- ism, because currently the sys- tem doesn't support private companies investing in sports tourism. Only associations or sports clubs are currently sup- ported by SportMalta," he said. Small nations games open month- long sports tourism bonanza Top: Eleanor Bezzina, the Malta team captain for the Games of the Small States of Europe, Above: Mauro Gasan (left) and MFA Secretary General Angelo Chetcuti (right)