Bid and preparation
In February 2017, Julian Pace Bonello, the president of the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC), announced that Malta would bid for the 2023 Games. [7]
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. [8]
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". [1] Malta hosted the Games of the Small States of Europe Assembly in June 2022, approving the final sports programme for the Games. [9] The Maltese government committed to supporting the games and Maltese athletes with €5 million worth of funding through Sport Malta. [10]
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. [2] Drawing inspiration from submissions, the logo was then designed by Concept Stadium and unveiled in June 2022 by Clifton Grima, the Minister for Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation. [11] [12] The logo was said to "[merge] the famous Olympic rings with the sea, fish and a Maltese icon recognized by many – the eye symbol". [12] 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), [13] or on 'Il-Gardjola' (a distinctive watchtower in Senglea) representing guardianship and observance. [14] The logo's overlapping colours represent "Malta's values of diversity and inclusion". [12]
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