Games of the Small States of Europe

The Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) is a biennial multi-sport event that has been organized by the National Olympic Committees of eight European small states since 1985.

Members

The Games are organized by the members of the Athletic Association of the Small States of Europe (AASSE). Membership consists of countries that are represented by autonomous National Olympic Committees, are located in Europe, and which have a population of less than one million. The participating countries are Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco and San Marino, all of which have participated since the first Games in 1985. Montenegro became a member of the AASSE following its 2006 declaration of independence, but sent no athletes to the 2007 Games in Monaco.

Future members

The Faroe Islands are seeking recognition by the IOC for the purpose of participating in the GSSE. Unlike all current members, the Faroe Islands are not a sovereign nation (they are an autonomous province of Denmark).

Host countries

*1985 - San Marino, San Marino
*1987 - Monte Carlo, Monaco
*1989 - Nicosia, Cyprus
*1991 - Andorra la Vella, Andorra
*1993 - Valletta, Malta
*1995 - Luxembourg, Luxembourg
*1997 - Reykjavík, Iceland
*1999 - Vaduz, Liechtenstein
*2001 - San Marino, San Marino
*2003 - Valletta, Malta
*2005 - Andorra la Vella, Andorra
*2007 - Monaco

Future games

The 2009 Games of the Small States of Europe will be held in June 2009 in Cyprus. ["Monaco to host 2007 GSSE." SportsBusinessNews, 6/6/2003. http://www.sportbusiness.com/news/151435/monaco-to-host-2007-gsse] In 2011, they will be held in Liechtenstein. ["Coming Home with 13 Medals." Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein, June 7, 2005. http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/fl-portal-aktuell?newsid=12360] The Games have been held on a somewhat rotational basis, but multiple countries (including Monaco and Cyprus) have adjusted the schedule to coincide with the twentieth anniversaries of their original hosting. Liechtenstein will be hosting the games in 2011, with Luxembourg in 2013 and Iceland in 2015. [cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Cyprus to host small European states' games in 2009 | date=2007-06-05 | publisher=Xinhua | url =http://english.people.com.cn/200706/05/eng20070605_381137.html | work =People's Daily Online | pages = | accessdate = 2007-06-12 | language = ]

List of sporting disciplines

At the 2007 Games 12 sporting disciplines were contested (with both men's and women's divisions):
*athletics
*basketball
*beach volleyball
*bowls
*gymnastics
*judo
*sailing
*shooting
*swimming
*table tennis
*tennis
*volleyball

Previous events have included cycling, bocce and squash.

References

External links

* [http://www.aasse.org Athletic Association of the Small States of Europe]
* [http://www.monaco2007.mc/ Monaco 2007]
* [http://www.cyprus2009.org.cy/ Cyprus 2009]
* [http://www.eurolympic.org/jahia/Jahia/cache/offonce/pid/522 European Olympic Committees: Games of the Small States of Europe]
* [http://www.monaco2007.mc/media/Stats_Medailles.pdf Medal results for Monaco 2007]
*cite web|url=http://www.andorra2005.ad/aplicacions/descarregarArxiu.aspx?Arxiu=/en/jocs05/historia/estadistiques_participacio.pdf |title=Statistics on GSSE Participation 1985-2003 |accessdate=2007-06-12 |last=Remo |first=Raimondi |coauthors=Manlio Molinari, Eros Bologna |date=2003 |format=PDF
*cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Games of the Small States of Europe - History of athletics results | date= | publisher= | url =http://www.gbrathletics.com/ic/gsse.htm | work =Athletics Weekly | pages = | accessdate = 2007-06-12 | language =