On behalf of SportMalta’s Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, the Management and all SportMalta’s employees, we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.

SportMalta’s mission is to move a nation through the promotion and development of sport for a healthy
inclusive and successful Malta. This year the entity won the prestigious of Premju Nazzjonali 2021-
Haddiema tas-sena, Premju ghall-aktar Organizzazjoni Inklussiva. This award comes with great
appreciation by everyone under the cap of SportMalta and as an entity it promises to enhance further the
work environment for all those that at some point throughout their life touch with SportMalta.

The main goal of SportMalta is to utilise sport and physical activity as a tool for social inclusion to live a
healthy lifestyle, physically, mentally, socially and environmentally. No matter what background individual
comes from, without any distinction, SportMalta strives for a stronger nation.

Recently, SportMalta has embarked on a unique project by starting to organize sport and physical
activities for all staff, during working hours, with the aim of moving workers who are usually behind a
desk. These activities served two main purposes, one being that through exercise, employees feel
stronger and the other is that through these activities the workers would feel closer to each other and
happier at the workplace and thus be more productive despite the time devoted to these activities.

SportMalta took care that the physical activities organized were inclusive in such a way that both those
who are accustomed and those who are new, feel stimulated and included by what was being offered.
During these sports activities, SportMalta workers, who are of different skills, both physical and mental,
felt included during these activities as well as in the workplace. SportMalta has even been recognized by
the European Commission for its work with its staff.

As stated by Mark Cutajar, CEO SportMalta, apart from all this, SportMalta has always been at the
forefront for launching inclusion programs in terms of sports for all. SportMalta is constantly creating
inclusion initiatives, both in those programs that take place year after year, as well as new projects that
reach people at risk of marginalization through sport and physical activity.

This year the return of the President’s FunRun took place with a difference as even during a pandemic a way to help out charity was created. Smaller walks were staged in 58 different locations in Malta and Gozo, hosting over 7000 individuals who joined in to help charity.

At 10am all localities gathered their participants dressed in this year’s commemorative T-shirt started off this year’s FunRun in aid of the Community Chest Fund with having President George Abela, Prime Minister Robert Abela and Opposition Leader Bernard Grech. Participants donated 10 euro each which will amount the to the total collected and announced during the Istrina on Boxing Day.

On November 29th, a Webinar in relation to Action the Governance Sport Codification Convergence was held to address federations/associations on the project’s progress, which aims to collect information concerning governance in sports organizations in European states, as well as already accessible Codes of Good Governance, with the goal of convergence. Attendees included representatives from the Maltese Olympic Committee.

In order to complete the webinar’s goal, a survey will be sent out in the first quarter of 2022, asking federations/associations to participate in the project by submitting information about governance in their respective organizations. Webinars as such help to gain knowledge and progress to make the situation better and create results to keep building and create a change.

A meeting between the Maltese and Italian government and sporting institutions took place yesterday at the offices of the Sports and Health School of Sport .

Mark Cutajar (CEO of SportMalta), Roberto Magro (Director of the Maltese School of Sport) and Karl Izzo (Director Technician of the Maltese National Water Polo).

The fruitful meeting between the two delegations dealt with many issues, including the possibility of future collaborations aimed at developing synergies between the two countries in the sports and training fields.

At the end of the meeting, the Maltese delegation was able to closely appreciate the Giulio Onesti Olympic Preparation Center, seat of the School of Sport and the beating heart of Italian sport.

SportMalta’s main goal is to inspire the Maltese population and change the country via sports and innovative, enjoyable, and meaningful events. The European Week of Sport is a European Commission initiative to raise awareness about the importance of physical activity in one’s life. During the European Week of Sport, 27 EU member states and many other nations around Europe and the Western Balkans launch a big campaign to encourage citizens to become more active.

SportMalta, has invited all Primary and Secondary Schools for their participation in the ‘European Week of Sport 2021’ by organizing a Sports Day to get the students to #BeActive during school hours. SportMalta is the National Coordinating Body for the European week of sport co-funded by the European Commission through Erasmus+ program. 

The balance between education and physical activity has always been a struggle. Initiatives like the European Week of Sports Day help to define a better balance and create an environment where both physical activity can be done in the education environment.

A record participation of 60 schools from all around Malta and Gozo accepted this invitation on Friday 29th October. SportMalta, the government entity for sport and the coordinating body of the European Week of Sport organized this sporting day event for all students of every age to enjoy a few hours of various physical activities and socializing through sport and exercise.

The innovation for this year’s event was the launch of videos created for students to get active during their school day by following simple exercises and activities shown on the videos. Two different videos have been created to target Primary and Secondary students, and tailor made to target all level of students found in our classrooms. These clips are available for all students including Public, Private and Church schools to reach every individual and promote physical activity and wellbeing.

The European Week of Sport has been pushing Europeans to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle for the past six years, helping to combat the inactivity issue. Increasing regular physical exercise, regardless of who we are or what we do, can have a significant influence on our long-term health. 

The main factor of all activities presented is to promote the best quality of physical activity and get the children moving around even during long school sedentary days. SportMalta promotes physical activities for all ages, specific activities like this help to target our future generations.

The 12^th edition of the President’s Solidarity Fun Run, taking place on Sunday 21^st of November, was launched.

Present for the launch were Mrs Miriam Vella, as well as Mr Mark Cutajar, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the Fun Run and Chief Executive of Sport Malta; the President of the Local Councils Association, Mario Fava; Enemed Executive Chairman, Kevin Chircop; the Opposition’s Spokesperson on Sport, Clyde Puli; as well as the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Clifton Grima.

For his part, Mr Cutajar said that with the return of the Fun Run, this year the format will be slightly different as it will take the form of a walk in every locality in Malta and Gozo. He explained that the Fun Run will take place in accordance with the protocols of the Health Authorities and that anyone applying for and attending the Fun Run must present the vaccine certificate.

 Mr Chircop, on behalf of the main sponsor Enemed, described The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation as a refuge for those going through difficult circumstances.

In a few words, Mr Mario Fava appealed to all residents as well as to every local council in Malta and Gozo to accept the invitation and unite for this noble cause.

Mr Puli described this event as an expression of the value of solidarity embraced by the people, while Parliamentary Secretary Grima described the Fun Run as a sign of hope that where there is unity, there is strength.

 In a speech at the launch of this year’s edition, President George Vella explained how such an occasion unites all the people and said that he is confident that once again, The Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation will find the support of the people.

 He thanked everyone involved in the event, and thanked all the sponsors.

 Anyone wishing to take part in the Fun Run 2021, can register with a donation of €10, either by visiting the Local Council of their locality or by applying through the website mccf.store.

Depiro Basketball Club organized activities over the span of two days in collaboration with Agenzija Support as a part of the European Week of Sport. On each activity day over a 100 people took part which made this event a successful one. 

On the first day they collaborated with Agenzija Support where physical activity through fitness exercises was presented for vulnerable groups. Different sessions throughout the day were held together with the supervision of Agenzija Support staff and Depiro Club Coaches. A small basketball tournament was held with Agenzija Support individuals and the day held over 100 participants.

On the second day due to bad weather the activities planned outdoor were moved indoors and had participants split into different groups conducting various fun activities through basketball emphasizing on the concept of working as a team. As the day played out and as the weather permitted activities on the football pitch where also held, all for different ages and lifestyles having over 150 individuals participating. 

These activities where of success thanks to all the staff and volunteers behind the planning and coordinating and the help of SportMalta all throughout.

On the 9th of October St. Paul’s Bay organised a yoga session for all ages and abilities as a part of being active all throughout during the European Week of Sport. The local council gathered over 15 participants on the day which contributed and attended the class.

The participants arrived at the Millennium Garden at 8:30am to take part in this activity, during the Yoga, the yoga instructor showed the participants basic yoga movements as the activity was set out to reach all abilities. At the end of the yoga activity at the Millennium Garden the group left for a walk towards the National Aquarium, including not just a yoga session but also an interactive social walk. Upon their arrival at the National Aquarium, thanks to SportMalta, participants were given SportMalta bags.  

This was a successful event and the Local Council of St. Paul’s Bay decided to repeat this activity as it turned out to be fruitful and successful. Residents had time to be active and socialise while doing some yoga and walking together. A special thanks to SportMalta for their help and inclusion throughout the activity.