On February 16 officials from the Games of the Small States of Europe Association (GSSE) visited Montenegro, the host to the XVIII edition of this big multisport event in May 2019.

Every 2 years the Games of Small States of Europe welcome some 1,500 participants from nine countries competing in ten sports.

The 2019 GSSE will take place in Budva, Podgorica, Bar, Cetinje and Tivat, from May 27th to June 1st next year, when the team from Montenegro will compete with athletes from Cyprus, Iceland, Monaco, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein, Andorra, Malta and San Marino across a range of sports including rowing, volleyball, beach volleyball, basketball, swimming, jungle, shooting, tennis and table tennis.

During the visit, GSSE Secretary General Angelo Vicini and Technical Commission President Jean Pierre Schobel underlined how these Games are primarily a sports event, but with a much wider message.

“These Games will be a great opportunity for Montenegro, not just from the point of view of sport but also tourism. In addition to the presidents of the Olympic Committees, the Presidents or ministers of the countries participating in the Games will be present. They will take the opportunity to meet during the Games and will be talking not only about sport, but also about political and economic issues, and possibilities for cooperation between states,” Vicini said.

After visiting the venues and other facilities, the GSSE officials agreed that Montenegro had the capacity to organize this competition, even if it is a complex event and the first of its kind to be staged in the country.

“We have had meetings with the local organizing committees and representatives of the Montenegrin Olympic Committee. They are doing a good job, and have prepared a strong document with all the technical details. We have seen some of the venues where competitions will take place. Some are already at an international level, while for others they need to make additional efforts to reach the required standard. I’m sure that next year everything will be in order and will be ready for the Games,” said Schobel.

Montenegrin Technical Committee member Igor Vušurović, stressed how Olympic values will be a feature, and announced that the NOC had sent an invitation to the event to IOC President Thomas Bach.

“It will be his first official visit to Montenegro, which is a great honour for us. As hosts we have to make sure that the aspect of our hospitality and tourism is shown in the best light and we need to present our country in the most favourable way, “ Vušurović said.

On the eve of the opening ceremony, on 24 and 25 May 2019 Budva will host the general assembly of the Games of Small Countries of Europe Association.