The 2025 edition of the Games of the Small States of Europe got under way on Monday night with a spectacular opening ceremony at the National Stadium in La Vella.
Team Malta, formed by 108 athletes from 12 disciplines, will start their adventure in the Games on Tuesday morning when competitions kick off.
After the record-breaking performance at the 2023 Games held in Malta two years’ ago, the Maltese Olympic Committee is looking at this year’s edition as an opportunity to return home with the country’s best ever performance in a GSSE held abroad, eclipsing the result achieved in Liechtenstein 2011 when the team won eight gold medals.
Team Malta stepped into the Andorra National Stadium with pride, led by flag bearers Francesca Curmi and Jared Micallef.
— MOC (@MOCMalta) May 26, 2025
Let the Games begin!#TeamMalta #GSSE2025 #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/WUHGO3XN9H
During last night’s ceremony, Team Malta was led during the athletes’ march past by flag bearers Jared Micallef and Francesca Curmi.
Micallef, in his second participation for Malta, is raring to go and could not hide his pride of sharing the honour of carrying the Malta flag with Curmi.
“I am very excited and honoured to be given the task of carrying the Malta flag,” Micallef, winner of a gold and silver medal two years ago, said.
“I am very proud to represent my country, and I am determined to do even better than I did two years ago. I am very determined, and I feel as a team we are going to do and all of us earned our spot and are ready to go on and get those medals.”
On her part, Francesca Curmi has established herself as Malta’s leading tennis player after breaking into the top 500 in the world rankings.
Curmi won gold in the doubles with team-mate Elaine Genovese while settling for silver in the singles event.
The young tennis player was elated to be given the responsibility to represent Malta in the opening ceremony.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Curmi said.
“I have been in this position before, and every time I do it feels bigger. To play for Malta is great but to hold Malta’s flag is even bigger, and I am grateful.”
Asked about her targets in the Games, Curmi said she is trying to go big this time round.
“I am playing all three events, so it would be amazing I manage to go three for three gold. This is the highest goal for me but the priority for me is to have fun with the team. You know I am always alone, travelling with my coach around and now I am with Team Malta and it is just lovely to play in a team.”
In Andorra, the conditions will be trickier for the tennis player, given the high-altitude conditions, but Curmi is unfazed.
“Obviously, the points will be shorter with how the ball bounces and the speed it moves, so I just need to do my best and move my feet because that is what I need to do but these conditions are for everyone, and I am sure we will adapt and will be great.”
On the opening day of competition, Malta will be competing in nine disciplines with high hopes of winning the first medals in athletics, swimming and table tennis.
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Author
Keith Dean
May 27, 2025 at 1:40 pm
Good luck Team Malta I’m a dual national of Malta also a marathon runner.