The 2013 Games of the Small States of Europe

Logo of the 15th Games of the Small States of Europe
http://www.luxembourg2013.lu/img/actu1big.gif

Of the many multi-sports competitions, the Games of the Small States of Europe  is one of the more unique concepts. It is for the smaller countries in Europe. All members have a population of less than a million people, hence the use of Small in the games' name (Cyprus, however, is over a million including Northern Cyprus). Of the fifty internationally recognized states in Europe, nine of them compete in the Games. They are Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, and San Marino. The 2013 Games was held in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg from May 27-June 1. This was the fifteenth ever Games of the Small States of Europe and the second ever held in Luxembourg. There were nine sports Olympic played during the five days of competition. They are athletics, basketball, cycling, gymnastics, judo, swimming, table tennis, tennis, and volleyball. 

In the men's 100 meters, Cyprus took home the top two medals, with Christos Charziangelidis taking gold with a time of 10.77 seconds and Michail Charalampous taking silver. The bronze medalist was Iceland's Kolbeinn Hodur Gunnarsson. In the women's 100 meters, Cyprus again took home gold with Anna Ramona Papaioannou winning with a time of 11.57. Tiffany Tshilumba of Luxembourg took home silver and Iceland's Hafdis Sigurdardottir got bronze.

The men's 400 meters was won by Malta's Kevin Arthur Moore with a time of 47.53. The silver  went to Iceland's Ivar Kristinn Jasonarson. Gunnarsson won his second bronze of the Games with a time of 48.21. The women's 400 was won by Anita Hinriksdottir of Iceland. Her time was 54.29. Luxembourg's Charline Mathias won silver and Cyprus' Kalliopi Kountouri received bronze.

Jean-Francios Schneiders
http://www.wort.lu/img/c176891049d435b3ed40f4816fc5d7e7/460/3
25/154/83/697/466/75/dd9b55c7ad7cc4ff0fdacaa0411b43425b3b7549.jpg

Swimming was headlined by two stars, Jean-Francois Schneiders of Luxembourg and Anton Sveinn McKee of Iceland. Schneiders won seven gold medals in his seven events. The individual events he won were the 100 meter freestyle, 200 meter freestyle, 100 meter backstroke, and 200 meter backstroke. He won the following team events; the 4 x 100 meter medley relay, 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay, and 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay. He broke the men's record in the 100 meter and 200 meter backstroke and helped Luxembourg break the record in the 4 x 100 meter medley relay. To cap it all off, he was the flag bearer at the closing ceremonies for Luxembourg. McKee won the 200 meter medley, 400 meter medley, 400 meter freestyle, 1500 meter freestyle, 100 meter backstroke, and 200 meter backstroke. He came in second in the 200 meter freestyle, 4 x 100 meter medley relay, and 4 x 200 meter freestyle relay. He won bronze in the 4 x 100 meter freestyle relay.

Volleyball was dominated by Cyprus, winning gold medals in three of the four events. In men's indoor volleyball, Cyprus had no competition. The won all four of their matches and did not lose any of their twelve sets. Men's beach volleyball, is the only volleyball event that Cyprus did not win gold. They won the silver. Liechtenstein took home the gold by winning all five of their games.

In women's volleyball, Cyprus won every game with ease. They went 3-0 and only lost one set. Women's beach volleyball had the most teams competing and the only one that had a group stage and a knockout round. There were two pools. In Pool A, Cyprus and Malta advanced with a 2-0 and 1-1 record respectively. Monaco was eliminated. In Pool B, Luxembourg went 3-0 and Liechtenstein went 2-1. Both teams advanced, while Andorra and Iceland did not. In the fifth place game, Monaco beat Andorra 2-0. In the semi's, Cyprus beat Liechtenstein and Luxembourg defeated Malta. In the bronze medal match, Liechtenstein won against Malta to take the bronze medal. In the gold medal match, Cyprus defeated the hosts, 2-0 to win gold.

In men's basketball, Cyprus and Luxembourg dominated. Five teams competed, Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, San Marino, each team played each other once. Cyprus won their first three games and so did Luxembourg. The final game of the tournament was between the two. The winner would get gold, while the loser gets silver. In front of a crowd of 3145, Cyprus won 79-67. Antony Lamar King led Cyprus with 23 points on 9/15 shooting. He also had help from Iakovos Panteli, who had eleven of his 18 points in the fourth quarter.

The Games' torch lit
http://www.cev.lu/NewsImages/14734/GSSE.jpg

At the end of the games, Luxembourg led the metal count. The host's had 36 gold medals, 39 silver medals, and 31 bronze medals for a total of 106. The runner-up in total medals is Iceland, with 28 gold, 29 silver, and 30 bronze medals for 84 total medals. After Iceland, comes Cyprus with 28, 17, and 24 gold, silver, and bronze medals respectively. Liechtenstein won eleven gold, 16 silver, and eight bronze medals. Montenegro won a total of eleven  medals, made up of nine gold and two bronze medals. That may not seem like a lot, but they only sent twelve athletes to the games. Monaco had seven gold, eight silver, and fifteen bronze medals. Malta's two gold, eleven silver, and thirteen bronze medals put them at 26 in total. Last in gold medals is San Marino with only one gold medal, four silver, and seven bronze medals. The last in total medals is Andorra with two gold, one silver, and three bronze.