2021 Games of the Small States of Europe

XIX Games of the Small States of Europe^[note 1]

Host city	Andorra la Vella
Country	Andorra

The 2021 Games of the Small States of Europe, also formerly known as the XIX Games of the Small States of Europe,^{[2][3][note 1]} was a cancelled sporting event, previously scheduled to take place in Andorra la Vella, the capital city of Andorra.^[4][5] Andorra previously held the 1991 and the 2005 installments of the Games.^[6] The 2021 games were cancelled due to the rescheduling of the 2020 Summer Olympics in July 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with Andorra looking to instead host the 2025 games.^[7]

Bidding and preparation

The nations of the GSSE host the event on a rotational basis every two years.^[8] Although Malta was originally expected to host the 2021 Games, they instead decided to swap places with Andorra in order to give enough time to build the necessary infrastructure.^[9] In May 2016, Andorra confirmed its candidacy for hosting the 2021 Games.^[9]

In February 2019, the Organising Committee of the Games first met and was formed of Antoni Martí (the then Prime Minister of Andorra), Olga Gelabert, Marc Pons, Jaume Martí, Jordi Cerqueda, Josep Besolí, Jordi Beal.^[10]

In May 2019, Jaume Marti Mandico, president of the Andorran Olympic Committee, was appointed as the President of the Games of the Small States of Europe, as is customary during editions of the Games.^[11][12]

Games

Expected participating teams

•  Andorra (details)
•  Cyprus (details)
•  Iceland (details)
•  Liechtenstein (details)
•  Luxembourg (details)
•  Malta (details)
•  Monaco (details)
•  Montenegro (details)
•  San Marino (details)
•  Vatican City (details)

After attending the previous edition with observer status, the Vatican City achieved full member status and was eligible to enter the 2021 tournament, despite not being an International Olympic Committee member, through a partnership with the Italian Olympic Committee.^[13]

Expected sports

In 2017, the Small States of Europe Karate Federation president Andreas Vasileiou said that he thought the course was "set" for karate's "anticipated debut at the 2021 Games."^[14][15]

During the 2017 Games, the Andorran Olympic Committee announced that they expected to have the following sports at the 2021 Games:^[9]

•  Athletics (details)
•  Basketball (details) ^[16]
•  Cycling (details)
•  Gymnastics (details)
•  Judo (details)
•  Karate (details)
•  Shooting (details)
•  Swimming (details)
•  Table tennis (details)
•  Tennis (details)
•  Taekwondo (details)
•  Volleyball (details)

Notes

1. After the 2021 Games were cancelled, the 2023 Games in Malta became the XIX Games of the Small States of Europe.^[1]

References

1. "Next edition: 2023 Malta". Games of the Small States of Europe. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
2. "Cyprus finish second in the 2019 Games of Small State of Europe medal list". Parikiaki. 2 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
3. "Montenegro cedeix el testimoni a Andorra 2021". Diari d'Andorra (in Catalan). 2 June 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
4. "Games of the Small States of Europe Information". European Volleyball Confederation. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
5. Palmer, Dan (29 January 2019). "Media working group founded for Games of the Small States of Europe". Inside the Games. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
6. "Andorra hosts Sports Games of the small states of Europe in 2021". All Andorra. 12 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
7. Camilleri, Valhmor (23 April 2020). "Updated: Andorra GSSE postponed - official". Times of Malta. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
8. "GAMES OF THE SMALL STATES OF EUROPE – MONTENEGRO TO HOST 18TH EDITION". European Olympic Committees. 30 May 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
9. "Jocs dels Petits Estats Andorra 2021". Comitè Olympíc Andorrà (in Catalan). Retrieved 5 June 2019.
10. "Es constitueix la Fundació Privada dels Jocs dels Petits Estats d'Europa Andorra 2021". Govern d'Andorra (in Catalan). 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
11. "The Assembly of GSSE was held today in Budva". Montenegro 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
12. Camilleri, Valhmor (28 May 2019). "Rugby Sevens to make its GSSE debut in Malta 2023". Times of Malta. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
13. "Athletica Vaticana in Montenegro for Games of Small States of Europe". zenit.org. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
14. "Successful Small States of Europe Karate Championships in Andorra". World Karate Federation. 15 October 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2019.
15. "Small States of Europe Karate FederationNewsletter of the S.S.E.K.F" (PDF). Federazione Sammarinese Arti Marziali. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
16. "Ad Andorra 2021 debutterà il 3 vs 3 di basket, a Malta 2023 niente pallavolo mentre ci sarà la prima volta del rugby a 7". RTV San Marino (in Italian). 27 May 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2019.