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William Chetcuti achieved a very good result during the recently held Mediterranean games in the Spanish resort of Almeria and the World Cup in Belgrade. In Almeria he won a bronze medal in the double trap shoot just missing on the silver medal by a single clay. I cannot fail to underline that the silver medallist was nobody else but a world record holder coming from our giant neighbour, Italy. In Belgrade he went one step further and claimed a silver medal in the same event.
So our lad William was rubbing shoulders with the very elite in his respective sport. In doing so he did not feel inferior or second to any of the other athletes being there on the day and competing. The micro-size of his island did not prevent William becoming one of the main protagonists. That is the way it should be and well done. His success presents a number of questions being addressed to other sport associations, the Malta Olympic Committee and the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport. What has happened to the other athletes--? Why haven’t they succeeded in obtaining better results?
Could it be that our athletes have been overshadowed by their opponents from much “mightier” countries because of the lack of opportunities to meet them at such a top-level competition? No wonder that it can easily be the case since the vast majority of our athletes had a chance to compete at the Small Nations Games only.
The GSSE represent the perfect opportunity for young athletes to get first experience in competing at international level. Don’t forget that any young athlete will find it difficult to leave his or her home and go abroad and compete in entirely unknown conditions. Until they get used to it, it will obviously take a little bit of time.
So having the GSSE as a stepping stone in launching the international career of our young athletes is one thing and having them reach the summit of their careers is quite another.
There is a feeling that our sport officials, more than athletes, are running away from top international events. The reason for that cannot be blamed on lack of money only. The proof of this can be found in a simple calculation. Large Maltese contingents being sent to Andorra for a week certainly do not cost more than smaller contingents being sent to neighbouring Spain. So the money is around – it is only about the way we use it.
More aspiration from athletes and especially officials should be encouraged. If we think in terms of the free exposure Malta gets while taking part in competitions like EU and world championships, Olympic games and Mediterranean games the conclusion can be only one: be part of it and let others see you and hear about you. Being there is about being in a spotlight. The number of people who got to know about Malta in Almeria is by far bigger than the same number of people from Andorra.
Some of our GSSE friends, Cyprus and Iceland, have understood the importance of these big events and have been taking port in them since long time ago. They know that it is the right thing to do. Simply speaking it is how and where big countries can find out about us and perhaps get an idea to set their training camps here. And us? We just benefit double, learning their trade from them and charging them for accommodation – two in one.
William Chetcuti and the officials from his association have shown to everyone where the right road is. It is now up to the rest of the Maltese sport fraternity (and sorority!) to follow. Once again, well done William!
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