The 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe, also known as the XIX Games of the Small States of Europe or informally Malta 2023 took place in

Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an Local councils of Malta, administrative unit and capital city, capital of Malta. Located on the Malta (island), main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, i ...

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

from 28 May to 3 June 2023. Malta previously hosted the

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and 2003 editions of the Games. The 2023 installation was originally planned to be the XX Games rather than the XIX Games, but the 2021 edition in

Andorra , image_flag = Flag of Andorra.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Andorra.svg , symbol_type = Coat of arms , national_motto = la, Virtus Unita Fortior, label=none (Latin)"United virtue is stro ...

was cancelled due to the

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Bid and preparation

In February 2017, Julian Pace Bonello, the president of the

Maltese Olympic Committee Maltese Olympic Committee ( mt, Kumitat Olimpiku Malti) is the National Olympic Committee representing Malta. It is also the governing body responsible for Malta's representation at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, European Games, Mediterran ...

(MOC), announced that Malta would bid for the 2023 Games. In June 2021, after the Games in Andorra had been cancelled, Marti Mandinco, the president of the Andorran Olympic Committee, handed over the presidency of the Games to Bonello. In February 2022, the MOC officially launched the Games with Bonello saying he hoped the event would "make the country proud" and "serve as a catalyst to inspire young athletes". Malta hosted the Games of the Small States of Europe Assembly in June 2022, approving the final sports programme for the Games. The

Maltese government Maltese may refer to: * Someone or something of, from, or related to Malta * Maltese alphabet * Maltese cuisine * Maltese culture * Maltese language, the Semitic language spoken by Maltese people * Maltese people, people from Malta or of Malt ...

committed to supporting the games and Maltese athletes with €5 million worth of funding through Sport Malta.

Logo and mascot

In December 2021, the MOC and the Ministry for Education's Centre for Physical Education and Sport launched a design competition for the Games' logo and mascot, open to children aged 10 to 18. Drawing inspiration from submissions, the logo was then designed by Concept Stadium and unveiled in June 2022 by

Clifton Grima Clifton Grima is a Maltese lawyer and politician who has served in the Parliament of Malta since 2016. A member of the Labour Party, Grima is also the Minister for Education and Sport. Political career In 2010, Grima graduated from the Unive ...

, the Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation. The logo was said to " ergethe famous Olympic rings with the sea, fish and a Maltese icon recognized by many – the eye symbol". The eye symbol is present in several different parts of Maltese culture, such as charms against the evil eye or as a mark of spiritual identity on the '' luzzu'' (a traditional Maltese fishing boat), or on 'Il-Gardjola' (a distinctive watchtower in Senglea) representing guardianship and observance. The logo's overlapping colours represent "Malta's values of diversity and inclusion".

Development and preparation

Venues

Games

Participating teams

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Sports

The following competitions are expected to take place:

Calendar

Medal table

Medalists

Basketball

Judo

Rugby sevens

Sailing

Squash

Swimming

;Men ;Women

Table tennis

References

External links

Official website
{{Games of the Small States of Europe Games of the Small States of Europe International sports competitions hosted by Malta Multi-sport events in Malta 2023 in European sport

Small_States_of_Europe Small may refer to: Science and technology * SMALL, an ALGOL-like programming language * Small (anatomy), the lumbar region of the back * ''Small'' (journal), a nano-science publication * <small>, an HTML element that defines smaller text ...

2023 in Maltese sport Games of the Small States Games of the Small States