| European Youth Olympic Days
· Murcia 2001
The European Youth Olympics are an International Olympic
Committee sanctioned festival of sport bringing together
over 2,000 young athletes from 48 European counties
in ten sports. The event was staged in Murcia, southern
Spain and lasted four days.
The Maltese contingent was headed by its Secretary
General Joseph Cassar as Chef-De-Mission and included
sailor Peter Valentino, athlete Mark Herrera and judoka
Marcon Bezzina. The other members of the contingent
were coaches Jeronme Mainemare, Jitcho Jetchev and John
Zammit. Pierre Cassar, Media Director of the MOC, accompanied
the contingent to attend a special seminar for young
journalists hosted by the Organizing Committee whereas
Envic Galea was entrusted with the role of Technical
Delegate by the International Judo Federation. The Maltese
contingent was one of the smallest in Murcia and was
housed in the same hotel together with the contingents
from Russia, Belarus and Georgia. Sailor Valentino and
his coach Mainemare, were accommodated at the sailing
center some one-hour away from the city center.
- Young Marcon Bezzina was the first Maltese athlete
in action in judo. In the 52kg category, Bezzina was
pitted against Russian Bouravtseva who won the bout
through an ippon. In the second bout, Bezzina faced
Dorofte of Romania. The Romanian girl looked nervous
after sweating to win her first bout against Berg
of Denmark. Yet, she was not to be undone and managed
to edge Marcon in a keenly contested tie. The category
was won by Liraz Ben Melech of Israel. Bezzina placed
ninth out of a pool of 21 judokas.
- Peter Valentino was in action practically every
day as sailors contested a total of eleven races over
a four-day period. The local sailor placed eleventh
out of a pool of 24 sailors in the laser class. He
also managed to clinch third place in one of the races.
In the final table of standings, Valentino edged athletes
from leading countries such as Italy, Russia and Portugal.
The event was one by Sergei Desiukevich of Belarus.
- Middle-distance athlete Mark Herrera took part
in the 800 metres. He clocked a time of 1.58.56, which
is just outside his personal best. Herrera registered
a better time than the athletes from Romania and Austria.
The final was won by Luxembourg new prodigy David
Fiegen who is bound to be among the medal winners
in the next edition of the Games of the Small States
of Europe, which will be held in Malta in 2003.
The sixth edition of the European Youth Olympic days
was a resounding success. Ten disciplines were contested
in an atmosphere governed by friendship and fair play.
Athletes from Russia were once again in the limelight
as they amassed a total of 39 medals, including 19 gold.
Great Britain was second and Germany third. Host nation
Spain won a total of 10 medals including four gold which
could easily have been five had the football team not
lost the final to the plucky Irish on penalties in a
thrilling encounter. These games help Maltese youngsters
in trading their ploys with some of Europe’s best
athletes and helping them shape their character for
the years to come.
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