XIII GSSE
Journey Comes To An End
NICOSIA,
6 June 2009 - The flame burning throughout the XIII
Games of the Small States of Europe has gone out.
But it
shall remaining burning forever in the hearts of the
thousands of people who with their performances,
competitiveness and sportsmanship gave a little piece of
their life to the XIII competition and for the small
nations with big hearts and souls.
Cyprus
handed over the Games Flag to Liechtenstein – the nation
that will host the XIV GSSE which may also see a debut
from Montenegro.
"We
have enjoyed this journey, wishing in many ways that it
would never end, but we have now reached the crossroad
and a new journey will now begin which will lead to
Liechtenstein in 2011," said, the President of the
Cyprus Olympic Committee (COC) Ouranios Ioannides during
his farewell speech at the ceremony.
"During the last six days, each and every
one of us made his or her mark on the games and they are
moments that will be forever carried throughout our own
lives.
"But
above all, we have all made a unified mark on these
games. This mark is our own common foundation that we
all built and lived on together and which we will now
all carry together forever.
"We will forever hold the special bonds of friendship
that we sealed in the last six days, the heartwarming
applause that followed the efforts of the athletes, the
successes of the athletes, the immense zeal and guidance
of the voluntary workers, the way in which those - who
made these games a success – poured in their heart and
soul, the sponsors for their support and finally all of
you who shared with us these last six days.
"With
the handing over of the Games Flag to the President of
the Liechtenstein Olympic Committee that will chair the
next GSSE, I would like to wish them every success ahead
of the long road leading to 2011. I would also like to
assure them that I will be on hand to facilitate them
should I be called upon and that we will all be in
support as they journey down the road."
The entry of the athletes onto the pitch,
whilst accompanied by the Municipal Philharmonic
Orchestra of Larnaca, created the picture of a colourful
mosaic.
The President of the COC then praised the
teams for their participations in the games before
biding them farewell. Eleni Artymata handed the Games
Flag to Ouranios Ioannides who in turn relayed the flag
to the President of the Liechtenstein Olympic Committee
Leo Kranz ahead of the XIV GSSE.
Leo Kranz then thanked Cyprus for “the
great games” and bid welcome to the eight nations that
will begin their journey to his country. The flame at
the national stadium in the Cypriot capital, was then
extinguished.
Fireworks then lit the night sky of
Nicosia over the GSP Stadium and the celebrations then
took over with Greek singer Glykeria and her orchestra.
Sports are after all a celebratory event.
PrO
