Watch: Maltese Olympic Committee launch official logo for 2023 Games of the Small States of Europe

The Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC) launched the official logo for the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) 2023 on Monday.

In a press conference to commemorate this launch, the logo, featuring five overlaid Maltese ‘eyes’ in the colours of the Olympic Rings, was unveiled in front of Dr Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research and Innovation, as well as representatives and athletes from the different sports which will compete at the Games.

Maltese Olympic Committee president Julian Pace Bonello, who is co-chairing the Games’ organizing committee together with SportMalta CEO Mark Cutajar, said the Games will be an exciting moment for the MOC as Malta will become ‘the centre of Europe’.

“In these past few days, we had over delegates from all the participating countries, who praised our organisation and our facilities where eventually these Games will be held,” Pace Bonello said.

“Today is another important step, unveiling the official logo of the event, a logo that combines culture, tradition and sport. In turn, today will be another important link in the chain of events that come in the coming weeks until May 29 next year, when we host the Games in our country.”

The launching comes on the back of a successful week of sporting achievements by Maltese athletes – three gold medals at the athletics Championship for Small States of Europe (CSSE), triumph for Malta’s Rugby Sevens as well as tennis player Francesca Curmi’s first-ever professional title win – all of which SportMalta CEO Cutajar believes were of an even higher level than the GSSE.

“This shows that the investment being made towards athletes and coaches is there,” Cutajar said.

“Today’s logo launch hopes to serve as hype for our community so that we can fill our pools, pavilions and stadiums from May 28-June 3, 2023 and get all of Malta and Gozo both aware and participant in these Games. Many of those around my age remember what happened back in 2003 and how we filled up our stands and the same must happen in 2023.

“Our target is to carry out the spadework and reach everybody. The results of the athletes are important but perfect execution of the Games is equally important. If one rises while the other falls, we will not have reached our objective. What is sure is that every door we’ve knocked on has opened for us so far.”

Jonathan Dalli, CEO of Concept Stadium – the company tasked with creating the GSSE 2023 logo – said the brand drew inspiration from students who had been invited to participate in the process of creation.

“We selected elements that we felt represented both the Games and our islands in order to ensure that this is a localised brand identity that is not only inspired by Malta but is also inspirational to the Maltese,” Dalli told the press conference.

“We wanted to create a brand that would merge the famous five Olympic rings with Maltese icons recognised by many – the gardjola and luzzu eyes, the delicious fresh fish and the colours of the Olympic rings themselves were merged into one to create a truly authentic and Maltese identity coupled with movement inspired by the agility of athletes from all the participating countries.”

Next year’s GSSE disciplines will consist of indoor, outdoor and sea sports. Basketball, Judo, squash and table tennis form the indoor sports; athletics, rugby sevens, shooting and tennis will be the outdoor events; sailing and swimming are the contests taking part in the sea.