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History · By Year
Athens 1896
12 countries took part in these Games for which there
were 80,000 spectators. The Americans dominated most
of the athletics events (they won 9 out of the 15 events),
while the Germans were superior in gymnastics, and the
French in cycling. However the disappointment of the
Greeks was soon forgotten when Spyros Louis managed
to win the marathon.
Following the success of these first games, the Greek
proposed that all subsequent Games were to take place
in Greece. But this was not approved, and it was then
agreed that the second Games were to be held in Paris
as recognition of the hard work done by Baron de Coubertin.
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Paris 1900
These Games took part at the same time when the World
Fair was being organized, and the organizers of this
Fair, did all they could so that the Olympic Games would
not steal the show. The Paris Games lasted 5 months,
and because of this the interest in the Games were not
high. No adequate sports stadia were built and the Games
were held at the track of the Racing Club de France
at the Bois de Boulogne. However the standard of the
athletes was already getting better. Water polo was
one of the sports in this edition.
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St. Louis 1904
The Americans also organized these Games to coincide
with the World Fair. Only four countries from Europe
took part in these Games (UK, France, Germany and Hungary).
The Americans dominated these Games and there was the
fear that there was not going to be any opposition except
from Americans between themselves. The biggest number
of spectators watching these Games was 2000.
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London 1908
Great Britain offered to organize these Games, after
the Italians had announced that they would not be able
to complete all the preparations in time. In less than
one year, they built the White City Stadium in London,
with a seating capacity of 100,000. The British launched
a grand scale publicity campaign and managed to attract
1500 competitors from 19 countries to their Games, which
were held under the patronage of the Royal Family.
The Opening Ceremony as we now know it, with the march
past and all the contingents wearing their particular
uniform, started with the London Games. These Games
were a success and a happy atmosphere was felt throughout.
In the marathon race, for which it is estimated that
about 250,000 people went to the streets to watch, the
Italian, Dorando Pietri managed to arrive first at the
White City stadium. However he soon fell down, exhausted.
Some officials helped him to his feet, and after running
another couple of meters, he fell down again. The doctors
and other officials present did not resist assisting
him to run to the finish, but needless to say, he was
disqualified, and the race was won by the American Johnny
Hayes. Dorando was later given a golden trophy by Queen
Alexandra as a show of appreciation.
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Stockholm 1912
3100 Athletes from 18 countries took part in the Stockholm
games, which were the biggest Games organized by then.
During these Games Jim Thorpe had won two gold medals
in the pentathlon and decathlon, but was later disqualified
when it came to be known that he had been a professional
baseball player, before he took part in the Games. For
the first time, Swedish twins Erik and Wilhelm won a
gold medal in the rowing, while a father and son team,
Oscar and Alfred Swahn won gold in team shooting.
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Antwerp 1920
The 6th Edition of the Games was first awarded to
Germany, but World War 1 broke out (1914 – 1918)
and the new facilities purposely built in Grunewald
had to remain unused. After the peace treaty, the 7th
Olympic Games were held in Antwerp, but those countries,
which emerged losers in this war, did not participate,
and so did Russia, which did not take part in the Olympic
Games before the Helsinki Games in 1952.
During these games the Finish athletes won 9 medals,
as much as the Americans did. The most outstanding athlete
in this edition was Poavo Nurmi, who in his brilliant
career won 9 gold medals and set 24 world records.
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Paris 1924
The Games returned to Paris after 24 years, and this
time, Baron Pierre de Coubertin was President of the
IOC. The Paris Games demonstrated that the Olympic Games
were growing and developing well, and 5,533 athletes
from 54 countries took part.
Poavo Nurmi again was brilliant during these Games,
and Hollywood’s’ character - Tarzan Johnny
Weissmuller won 3 gold medals.
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Amsterdam 1928
Malta’s debut in the Olympic Games. The IOC had
already been discussing the possibility of organizing
the Winter Olympic Games, and the first Winter Olympic
Games were held in Chamonix in France in 1924. But since
snow in Malta has not yet been discovered, we shall
leave this aside.
During this edition, women were allowed to take part
in track and field. However the 800 meters race raised
a lot of discussion and polemics since it was considered
as a very long distance. 36 years had to pass, before
women could compete in distances of 800 meters and more.
But the Amsterdam Games hold a special meaning for us,
and mainly because Malta took part in these Games for
the first time. In spite of the fact that football was
and remains the most popular sports in Malta, Malta
participated with a water polo club.
The contingent included: Carmelo “Meme Busietta
(captain), Turu Rizzo (who was already well know for
his long distance swimming) H. Bonavia, E. Magri, L.
Darmanin, V.F. Busietta, R. Fiorini Lowell, V.J. Pace
(these were all Sliema United players) and R. Nappa
of Valletta United and Captain Ugo Sammut as an interpreter
and Mr. E. Busietta as a masseur.
Malta’s baptism of fire in the international sphere
started very well and our team won their first match
against Luxembourg 3 - 1, but our euphoria soon disappeared
when they lost heavily against France (the eventual
bronze medal winners) 16-0 and against the United States
8-0.
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Los Angeles 1932
Malta did not participate in these Games. Of particular
interest during these Games was the fact that it was
the first time that there was a specifically built Olympic
Village, where all the athletes were accommodated, and
that the black American Athletes started doing very
well and winning medals.
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Berlin 1936
Malta’s second participation. The fact that the
Olympic Games came closer to our shores, served for
the re-awakening of the Malta Olympic Committee. Mr.
A. Cassar Torregiani, the MOC President, requested Mr.
Giorgio and Mr. Gracey to contact the German Olympic
Committee as well as the International Olympic Committee
and to complain about the fact that Malta had not yet
received an official invitation to take part in the
Games.
The German National Olympic Committee soon answered
that Malta was not on its list of members, which was
given to it by the IOC. On its part, the IOC answered
that Malta was no longer considered a member of the
IOC, since it had failed to pay its affiliation fee.
Many local athletes were disappointed with what was
happening, and it was thought that the same problems
encountered in 1928 with the IOC were going to be repeated.
Circulars were sent to all sports associations to elect
a new MOC Committee. At a meeting held on the 8th April
1936, a new committee was formed by:
President: Mr. A. Cassar Toreggiani
Vice President: Capt. H. Briffa
Secretary / treasurer: Mr. P. Giorgio
Members: Messers: L. J. Clark, J. H. Gracey, J. Attard
Manche, E. J. Scicluna, A. C. Crockford, E. J. Cuschieri
and Coll. V. Micallef
The main task the Committee had was to write to the
International Olympic Committee, informing that the
MOC had been set up since 1928, and to reapply or reactivate
its membership.
This time the MOC did not wait for any answers from
the IOC, and preparations started immediately. The competitors
who were to be chosen had to start training hard and
regularly. A campaign to raise the sum of Lm700 was
launched.
The Government donated the sum of Lm300 on condition
that the fundraising committee would raise another Lm300
through its activities. Up till the 20th May, the MOC
had not received any answer from the IOC, and the committee
sent a telegram informing that Malta was eagerly awaiting
a decision.
A positive reply was soon received from both the IOC
and the German Olympic Committee who soon after sent
an official invitation. Malta informed that it wished
to participate with athletics and water polo.
Now the MOC could focus better on the preparation of
the Maltese athletes, and in particular the water polo
team. The ASA suggested to rope in Filippo Schembri,
who used to play with the Sirenes – Tritons of
Tunis, but who was of Maltese nationality and a British
citizen, and therefore eligible to play for Malta. The
idea was that Filippo would train the Maltese side and
at the same time form part of the team.
Mr. Attard was sent to Tunis to convince Filippo to
come and train and play for Malta. Filippo accepted,
and when he arrived a week later, the Maltese players
were so pleased that they started training even harder.
The Germans were determined to organize the best Games
ever, and started asking many questions so as to make
the athletes stay at the Olympic Village a happy one.
When asked what kind of diet the Maltese athletes preferred,
a lot of surprises came out.
The Maltese contingent left our shores on the 24th July
1936 on board the Mohamed Eli el Kebir, with Mr. P.
Giorgio as Chef de Mission, Mr. J. Attard as swimming
section leader, Mr. G., Craig, assistant leader, Mr.
E. Scicluna, leader for athletics, Mr. W. F. M. Cook
(RAF) masseur and trainer for athletics and Dr. J. Sammut,
doctor. The contingent also included Mr. A. Cassar Torregiani,
A. J. Bencini and P.E. Pace (for athletics) and J. Demicoli,
J. Frendo Azzopardi, A. Lanzon, F. Wismayer, F. Schembri,
A. Podesta, W. Podesta, S. Scott, J. Chetcuti, C. Parlato
and J. F. Albanese for Waterpolo.
During these Games, Malta marched behind the Union Jack.
Austin Cassar Torregiani raced in the same heat as Jesse
Owens in the 100 mts. When the athletes were digging
their foothold in the ground (there were no starting
blocks then) Jesse Owens went to Austin, and told him
“Hello buddy, we’re running in the same
heat”. Austin says, that he felt like his death
sentence had just been proclaimed. He managed to finish
in the 4th place of that heat, but did not make it to
the finals.
The water polo team won some friendly matches before
the Olympic Games, and this proved to be to their detriment
during the Olympic Games. First they lost 8 –
1 against Germany in a friendly match (who won silver).
They were very demoralized now, and they were easily
beaten 8- 2 by Britain, 12 – 0 against Hungry
(who won gold) and 7 – 0 against Yugoslavia.
During these Games, the Germans revived the ceremony
of the lighting of the flame at Olympia, and decided
also that the winners be awarded a wreath of laurels
as well as the medals.
To the disappointment of Hitler, Jesse Owens, a black
American won 4 gold medals.
The 1940 and 1944 Games were not held because of World
War 2
Baron Pierre de Coubertin died in 1937 and according
to his will; his heart was buried in Olympia in Greece.
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London 1948
The most outstanding athletes in these Games was the
Dutch woman Mrs. Francina (Fanny) Blankers–Koen,
who was nicknamed as the flying Dutchwoman and the Czechoslovak
Emile Zatopek.
Malta was still shattered after the war, and little
did one think of the Olympic Games. Even when the official
invitation was received from the British Olympic Committee,
there was no interest, except from the Malta football
Association, which however was facing so many problems,
that they soon withdrew their interest.
It seemed then that Malta was not going to take part
in these Games, and then Mr. Gracey proposed Nestor
Diacono, who was doing quite well in athletics. He managed
to stop the watch at 10.05 for the 100 yards, and this
was considered very good. On the 9th July 1948, Mr.
Nestor Jacono accompanied by Chef de Mission Mr. Manduca
and Mr. F. X. Zammit Cutajar as manager left to London.
Mr. Jacono was therefore the first Maltese athlete to
travel by plane to the Olympic Games.
Jacono spent 15 days training under a Canadian Coach
before his event, and of course he was very excited
about this marvelous experience. The correspondent of
the daily Telegraph described the scene at the Opening
ceremony “ Amongst all the contingents, two persons
(F.X. Zammit as flag bearer in front of Nestor Jacono)
from the Island of the George Cross – the Maltese
team which consists of only one athlete, were applauded
enthusiastically and shouts of “Brave Malta’
could be heard from all around.
Nestor, was warned for a false start, and eventually
did not do very well.
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Helsinki 1952
These were named as the Friendly Games. Russia made
a come back to these Games after an absence of 40 years.
These Games however can also be called as the Games
of Zatopek. Both he and his wife won gold medals in
the Helsinki Games, and thus making them the first husband
and wife to win medals in the same Games.
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Melbourne 1956
Melbourne won the bid to host these Games by one vote,
and many were not convinced that this was a good idea
to hold them in this part of the world. 1956 remains
known in history for two sad events – the Suez
Canal crises, and the Revolution in Hungary. Holland
refused to take part, and instead they donated the sum
of L10.000 in favour of the Hungarian refugees, while
Spain, Egypt and Lebanon refused to take part. IOC President,
Avery Brundage warned, that the Olympic Games are held
between individuals and not amongst nations, and no
one should use the Games for political purposes. To
complicate matters for the Organising Committee, the
Australian Government, did not want to budge on the
question of quarantine, and therefore, arrangements
were soon made in order that the Equestrian Competitions
were transferred to Stockholm.
The Australian stars in these Games were Betty Cuthbert
and Shirley Strickland (de la Hunty).
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Rome 1960
The Rome Games were a success in more ways then one.
Amongst the most outstanding performances, the Australian
Herb Eliott’s 1500 in 3.35.6 remains one of the
most interesting races ever, as well as the unexpected
win of Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia who ran the marathon
bare footed and setting a world record of 2.15.162
Drugs in Sport claimed its first victim – Danish
cyclist Knud Jensen.
Cassius Clay won gold in the lightweight category.
The Maltese Contingent. Malta participated in Rome with
Cycling, Swimming, Shooting and Sailing (in Naples).
Malta also took part in the football preliminaries,
but was eliminated in Morocco. (2-2 in Malta and 1 –2
away) and 0 – 0 in Malta against Tunis, and 0
–2 away. Mr. Joe Griffiths was the coach for Malta.
The first to compete were the swimmers, and they did
not do very well.
In cycling we finished last. In the individual races,
Camilleri was not allowed to compete because he was
suffering from a bad tooth. Bugeja stopped after 24
kilometers because of troubles with his bicycle gears.
He was given another bicycle, which however was too
large for him. Polidano gave up half way through the
race.
In shooting we did a bit better, but no satisfactory
results were achieved.
In sailing, the Maltese had to borrow their boats. The
Ripard brothers competed in the Star class, while Borda
and Formosa raced in the Finn Class. Here again it was
clear that the Maltese were not really prepared for
these Games and the results were very disappointing.
Mr. Lewis Portelli was invited to Rome to comment and
broadcast live on Rediffusion about the Olympic Games.
In Malta there was record sales of TV sets.
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Tokyo 1964
Bye far these were the best games ever. Australian
Daen Fraser (27 years old) won the 100m freestyle. Dutch
Judoka, Anton Geesing was the only stranger to win a
gold medal in the sport in which the Japanese believed
that was theirs and theirs only.
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Mexico 1968
The high altitude where Mexico City lies, caused some
problems, but still a number of records were broken.
The hero of these Games was the black American Bob Boston
who broke the long jump record by over 2 feet. American
Dick Fosbury used a new technique for his high jump.
This technique is still called the Fosbury Flop Malta
was represented with one shooter, Mr. Peppi Grech who
finished in the 46th place out of 52 competitors. The
Chef de Mission was Mr. Louis Grasso.
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Munich 1972
Nicknamed the Computer Games for the way everything
worked with such an unprecedented precision. Mark Spitz
won 7 gold medals.
But these Games will always be remembered for the “Tragedy
of Munich”. On the 5th September 1972, on the
11th day of the Games, 8 members of the Black September
Group attacked and killed two Israelite athletes at
the athletes village and later another 9 who were taken
as hostages. All the events were immediately suspended
and postponed for 24 hours.
Malta participated with cycling and shooting. The Maltese
contingent included Mr. Carm Borg, Chef-de-Mission,
L. Bezzina, J. Magri, P. Mallia, Peppi Grech, A. Caruana,
J. Bugeja, and A. Tonna.
The cyclists took part in the team time trials, and
managed to beat Iran, Cameron, Thailand and Malaysia
to finish in the 31st place out of 35 countries.
Peppi Grech, competing for his third time in the Olympic
Games, finished 56th out of 62 competitors.
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Montreal 1976
Politics continue to weaken the Olympics. These were
the first Games under the Presidency of Lord Killanin.
The expenses for these Games were three times those
budgeted. China asked Canada not to allow Taiwan to
compete. Canada accepted but this was not enough. 18
African countries and another 5 Arab countries, led
by Tunisia, withdrew from the Games.
Lasse Viren can be considered as the best athlete of
these Games, and he repeated his Munich successes, and
won again the 5000metres and 10000 metres.
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Moscow 1980
Malta wins 11th place in shooting. The Americans boycotted
the Games. In 1970, Russia invaded Afghanistan and the
President of America; Jimmy Carter appealed all nations
who were not under a communist government to boycott
the Games.
Malta participated for the 7th time in the Olympic Games
with Shooting, Archery and Cycling. The Maltese contingent
included:
MOC Officials: C. Borg, President MOC, Chef de Mission
Mr. Bertie Muscat. Athletes and Officials: J. Schembri,
J. Agius, L. Portelli, L. Vella, N. Abela, J.Bugeja,
J. Magri, A. Micallef, A. Tonna, J. Farrugia, C. Muscat,
Ms. Joanna Agius was the first Maltese female competitor
to participate in the Olympic Games.
Laurence Vella, the son of Wenzu Vella who had participated
in the Rome Olympic Games, managed to finish in the
11th place in the final classification. He shot, 20
- 23, 23, 25, 25 and 25, 24, and 24 for a total of 189
– just 9 clays behind the Gold winner. Frans Chetcuti
hit 179 clays and finished in the 28th place from 34
competitors.
Joanna Agius finished in the 28th place out of 29 competitors
while Leo Portelli finished last from 38 participants.
In Cycling, Malta competed in the team time trials and
in the individual event. Malta finished in the 20th
position from 23 nations, beating Libya, Cameroon and
Ethiopia.
The individual event was really a hard one and from
the 161 cyclists who started the race, only 53 finished.
None of the Maltese Cyclists finished the race.
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LOS ANGELES - 1984
PETER BONELLO wins Malta 9th place in boardsailing.
The Communists boycott the Games. Malta participated
with athletes in Board Sailing, Archery, Athletics,
Wrestling and Shooting.
The Maltese contingent included:
MOC Officials: Mr. Carm Borg, Head of Delegation, Mr.
Bertie Muscat, Secretary General, Mr. E. Caruana - Chef
de Mission.
The Athletes and Officials:
Shooting: Frans Chetcuti, Mr. M. Gauci, Mr. V. Galea
in charge of shooting. Athletics: Jennifer Pace, Mr.
G.Zammit in charge of Athletics. Board Sailing: Peter
Bonello, Jean Paul Fleri Soler, Mr. G. Busuttil and
Mr. J. Rausi in charge of board sailing. Wrestling:
Jesmond Giordemaina, A Zammit, Mr. Carm Camilleri in
charge of Wrestling. Archery: Joanna Agius, Mr. T. Cauchi
in charge of archery.
The result of Peter Bonello is definitely the best result
that Malta every managed in the Olympic Games finishing
in the 11th place out of 39 competitors. In two of his
races, he placed 3rd and 7th. Jean Paul Fleri Soler
was reserve. Jennifer broke the Maltese javelin record
by more than 2 meters, but anyhow, finished last from
the 13 athletes taking part in this event. In shooting,
Michael Gauci and Frans Chetcuti finished in the 48th
and 51st place out of 71 competitors.
In Wrestling, Jesmond Giordemaina won his first bout
against Wei-Ki Lou of Taiwan, but then lost his two
other bouts against Korea and Turkey and finished in
the 12th position out of 17 competitors.
Alex Zammit lost his two bouts and finished last with
a number of others who also did not win any bouts. Joanna
Agius placed 41st out of 47 competitors.
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1988 - SEOUL
The Maltese contingent led by flag bearer Joanna Agius,
who represented Malta for the third successive time
and led by Mr. Bertie Muscat, Chef-de-Mission.
Malta participated in Archery, Wrestling, Board Sailing,
and Judo.
The Maltese contingent included:
MOC Officials: Mr. Carm Borg, President MOC, Mr. Bertie
Muscat – Chef de Mission, Mr. Philip Vassallo
– MOC Official
The Athletes and Officials:
Judo: Jason Trevisan, Mr. Godfey Bezzina – Judo
Official, Wrestling: Jesmond Giordemaina, P. Farrugia,
and Mr. Carm Camilleri - Wrestling Official, Archery:
Joanna Agius, Mr. T. Cauchi - Archery Official. Board
Sailing: Jean Paul Fleri Soler, Simon. Gatt, Mr. Joe
Bugeja - Board Sailing Official, Mr. E. Zarb Cousin
– boatman.
The results of the Maltese athletes were not good and
the best result was that of Jean Paul Fleri Soler, who
though racing on a new board, finished 35th out of 45th
competitors.
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1992 - BARCELONA
The Maltese contingent was led by flag bearer Laurie
Pace and by Louis Borg, Chef-de-Mission at the Montijuc
Olympic Stadium in Barcelona. 172 countries took part
in what were probably the best Games ever organized.
Malta took part in Athletics, Shooting, Judo, and Boardsailing.
The Maltese contingent included:
MOC Officials: Magistrate Dr. Gino Camilleri –
President, Mr. Bertie Muscat – Secretary General,
Mr. Louis Borg – Chef de Mission, Mr. Joseph Cassar
– Ass. Chef de Mission, Mr. Philip Vassallo -
MOC Official
The Athletes and Officials:
Athletics: Deirdre Caruana 100m and 200m; Carol Galea
– 800m, 1500; Mr. Joe Bajada – official.
Shooting: Horace Micallef 30th place out of 54 nations;
Mr. Robert Mikoulenko – official. Judo: Laurie
Pace - eliminated in first round; Jason Trevisan - eliminated
in first round, Mr. Alex Bezzina – official, Mr.
Angelo Beltracchini – coach. Board Sailing: Jean
Paul Fleri Soler – 33rd place out of 44 competitors;
Nigel Rausi – reserve and pacer; Mr. Benny Grech
– official
Mr. Bertie Muscat was awarded the Olympic Award by H.
E. Juan Antonio Samaranch for his long years of continuous
service to the Olympic Movement.
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ATLANTA 1996
The Centennial Games
Shooter Frans Pace finished in 20th position
Malta took part in Athletics, Judo, Board Sailing, Shooting
and Swimming.
The Maltese contingent included:
MOC Officials: Magistrate Dr. Gino Camilleri –
President, Mr. Joseph Cassar – Secretary General,
Mr. Philip Psaila – Chef de Mission, MOC Officials:
Mag. Lino Farrugia Sacco, Mr. Peter Tortell, Dr. John
Buhagiar – Doctor, Mr. Mario Galea.
The Athletes and Officials:
Athletics: Carol Galea – marathon – dnf;
Mario Bonello – 100m – 88th out of 106,
Mr. Charles Pullicino - Official; Judo: Laurie Pace
– lost her two fights, Mr. Serguei Telliok - coach;
Sailing: Andrew Wilson – board sailing –
best placing was 27th and finished 38th out of 46, John
Tabone – laser – at one time 24th place,
but finished 41st out of 56 competitors, Mr. George
Bonnici – official. Shooting: Frans Pace –
20th out of 52, Mr. Peter Croft – coach. Swimming:
Gail Rizzo 100m free – last; 100m back –
2nd in her heat and 33rd out of 36, 50 free –
4th in heat – 50th out of 55, Prof. Goethe –
coach.
The IOC and Freedom Forum invited Mr. Lewis Portelli
as a journalist.
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SYDNEY 2000
Malta took part in Athletics, Swimming, Judo, Shooting,
and Sailing.
The Maltese contingent consisted of:
Hon. Jesmond Mugliett, Parliamentary Secretary in the
Ministry of Education.
MOC Officials: Mr. Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco –
President, Mr. Joe Cassar – Secretary General,
Mr. Philip Psaila – Director of Sport, Mr. Bertie
Muscat – Deputy President, Mr. Peter Tortell –
Director of Finance, Prof. Angelo Psaila, Dr. Kirill
Micallef Stafrace – Medical Officer, Mr. Charles
Camenzuli – Ass. Sec. Gen/Media Officer.
The Athletes and Officials:
Athletics: Mario Bonello – 100m, Susanne Spiteri
– 100m, Mr. Donato Sabia – Coach. Swimming:
John Tabone – 400m, Angela Galea – 100m
butterfly, Mr. Atilla Selmeci – Coach. Judo: Laurie
Pace – 57 kgs, Mr. Sergei Teliouk – Coach.
Shooting: Frans Pace – Trap, Mr. Peter Croft –
Coach. Sailing: Mario Aquilina – Laser Class,
Mr. Peter Valentino – Coach, Mr. Andreas John
– Asst. Coach.
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Next Games - ATHENS 2004
Information and photos with the kind permission of
Lewis Portelli.
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