Games of the Small States of Europe

Overview

The Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE) are a biennial multisport event organized by the National Olympic Committees (NOC) of the nine European small states. The games have been held since 1985.

History

The idea of organizing small-state games was introduced at one of the meetings of the European Olympic Committee, with the goal of providing a platform for smaller countries to participate in international sports competitions. The participating small states are defined as those with less than one million inhabitants and their own National Olympic Committee, as well as being members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The statutes and regulations were established during the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. These games, with few exceptions, are held in accordance with the rules of the relevant international sports federations.

Organization

The GSSE is organized by the National Olympic Committees of the nine European small states: Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, San Marino, and Switzerland. The games are sponsored by various organizations and have been held every two years since 1985.

Participation

Athletes from participating countries compete in a variety of sports, including athletics, aquatics, badminton, basketball, football, handball, hockey, judo, shooting, table tennis, taekwondo, triathlon, and volleyball. The games provide an opportunity for smaller countries to participate in international sports competitions and to develop their athletes.

Launch

The GSSE was first launched by San Marino, which has been a consistent participant in the games since its inception.