Pierre Cassar On Friday / November 15th / 2002 This is our story Pierre Cassar Given the lack of finances, our athletes were not participating in any foreign competitions and some were pondering quitting. The November tournament was the catalyst which injected a new lease of life into the wrestling federation. Some movie producers have a habit of using a narrator at the beginning of a film to tell a story. Bear with me if I do the same. This is a true story which probably reflects what really happens behind the scenes in most small federations in Malta. Ten years ago, the Malta Amateur Wrestling Federation was in dire financial straits. I had just been roped into the drama without realising what I was going in for. As a happy go lucky University student, I relished a new challenge. Little did I imagine that ten years down the road, freestyle wrestling is part and parcel of my life. There is no denying the crucial need for money in any sporting organisation. When the local wrestling federation was on the brink of extinction due to its coffers hovering deeply in the red, six worried officials, including yours truly, met around a table and played a dangerous game of Russian roulette... with the organisation's destiny at stake. I am a pessimistic person by nature but I also believe that when a situation hits rock bottom, things cannot get any worse and subsequently the only way is up. Given this basic philosophy we agreed to take the plunge and propose to the international federation the hosting of a championship for small countries. The first hurdle to clear was obtaining the blessing from the world wrestling body. This came without much ado and within a few weeks, our federation was busy securing a venue, drafting invites, checking flights and attending to all the logistics that govern such an event. In November 1993, three countries, including Malta, lined up for the first International Freestyle Wrestling Championship for Small Countries. It was indeed a humble beginning and following the departure of the Cypriot and Swiss wrestlers, a heated discussion ensued as to whether the Maltese federation should risk such a low turn-out again. But, at times, perseverance works miracles and this is exactly what we did. Over the years this championship has embedded itself in the international calendar and a number of world class wrestlers have graced our shores. The advent of this international tournament was indeed our first tangible restructuring exercise. The federation simply had to seek new avenues to provide a platform for its members to compete against foreign opposition. However, organisation comes at a cost. In a bid to keep expenses down to bare minimum, we had to go out of our way. That meant going to the airport a handful of times a day to greet delegations and drive them to the hotel, thus making away with transportation costs. Over the first few years we mastered the dos and don'ts of organising such an important championship. Foreign delegations can make life difficult if things do not live up to their expectations. Administrative tasks consume endless hours. Most of our regular visitors hail from autonomous republics in Russia and therefore require a visa to enter Malta. That means constant communication with the local police to ensure that all documentation is in place to avoid any unpleasant hiccup at the arrivals' lounge. Our organisational skills seem to have passed the initial test as we have always scored excellent ratings from the foreign delegations who have visited Malta to participate in this tournament. We have even learnt how to be diplomats and strive for integrative solutions like when Cyprus refused to compete because the Macedonians wanted to use the name Macedonia rather than the full name of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Take the instance when a delegation from Chechneya wanted to parade their flag and have their anthem rather than the Russian anthem played during the gold medal presentation of their star wrestler Jabrailov. These incidents have to be tackled with the utmost of sensitivity as the slightest slip of the tongue can result in a massive diplomatic row with one or more delegations storming out of the hotel. They say that business has no face and no heart. That seems to be true as some travel agencies have tried to put spokes in our wheels by trying their utmost to lure foreign teams to stay in hotels other than the ones earmarked by the organisers for the championship even if this is contrary to the regulations stipulated by the international federation. Yet, ten years down the road, we are still defying the odds and organising this tournament, which this year promises to be the greatest ever. The sign of the times dictated that we had to seek innovative ventures to ensure our survival. Other federations are also organising similar international events here. This is the way forward as national associations have to actively seek sponsors and find ways and means how to ensure their survival. This is our story.
Free-style wrestling in our country by Simon Bonello
Dateline: 25 February, 2000
Amateur Olympic Free-Style Wrestling in our country is organised by the Federazzjoni Maltija Lotta (Malta Amateur Wrestling Federation). The federation organises annually the national club and individual championships.
For the past seven years it has been entrusted by the International Federation of Wrestling Styles to organise the Championships for Small Countries with a population of not over 5,000,000 people. Even this year these championships are going to be hosted in Malta, on the 17-18-19 November. For the first time the programme is going to include also the female championships.
For those who do not know, the Maltese federation organised the Commonwealth Championships way back in 1989. Two Maltese wrestlers won medals in two different Commonwealth editions. It is also important that one knows that Maltese wrestlers got medals including gold ones in a good number of international tournaments. In the Olympic Games held in Los Angles a Maltese wrestler, Jesmond Giordemaina, managed to place 12th out of 34 competitors.
The two leading clubs are Stefano Zerafa Trade School of Naxxar and the University Amateur Wrestling Club. A new youth club has just been started as part of the Qawra Church Youth Centre | 
