A record sum for Special Olympics Malta – € 420,000 in direct assistance from SportMalta

At a conference at the National Swimming Pool in Tal-Qroqq, Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli, Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima and the President of Special Olympics Malta Dr Lydia Abela chaired the signing of a new agreement between SportMalta and Special Olympics Malta which will lead to SportMalta handing over € 420,000 to Special Olympics Malta over a period of three years.

This agreement will be helping Special Olympics Malta athletes so that they can continue to participate in the International Special Olympics Games and in training camps abroad. In addition, through these funds, Special Olympics Malta will be investing in kits and equipment that it will need from time to time.

At the beginning of her speech, the Minister for Inclusion and Quality of Life Julia Farrugia Portelli congratulated Dr Lydia Abela who has just been appointed President of Special Olympics Malta.

“Through this agreement between this year and the year 2023 Special Olympics Malta will be given € 420,000, a sum that shows a substantial increase on what has been given so far, € 100,000 per year. Very significant is the fact that our country, one of the smallest in the world, will be hosting a world sports event for disabled persons next year, the Special Olympics Games. Significant because it shows that our country is being recognized and appreciated for the way it works and does everything possible to make persons with disabilities feel integrated in society, including in sports. We will be showing that a sporting event of this quality with its protagonists being persons with disabilities is a way towards unity, love and inclusion. People with disabilities will show that they too have an important role to play in unity and love among nations, a role that reflects the principle of inclusion in the society we so strongly believe in,” she said. Minister Farrugia Portelli.

At the end of her speech, Minister Farrugia Portelli thanked all those from Special Olympics Malta who are working hard for the benefit of people with disabilities and promised them that they will continue to find the Government behind them.

Parliamentary Secretary Clifton Grima, while praising Special Olympics Malta for the valuable work done throughout the year, stressed that this work with Special Olympics Malta will bear fruit when in 2022 Malta will be hosting a Special Olympics international event. The Parliamentary Secretary went on to say that the direction of the government is to be a strategic partner of sports associations and federations so that proper planning can be done and thus ensuring stability and work leading to positive change. He concluded that in recent years Special Olympics athletes have achieved various successes both on a sporting level, including in international forums, as well as on a human and personal level where the full development of the person is achieved.

The President of Special Olympics Dr Lydia Abela said that she is proud that together with the National Director of Special Olympics she managed to negotiate with SportMalta the largest financial package for the next three years. The agreement will help Special Olympics in their day-to-day operations and to continue to invest in their athletes and assist them in their development and offer parental support.

Dr. Lydia Abela said that this is an exciting time for Special Olympics and for the whole country, as next year for the first time in 20 years our country will host the international games of Special Olympics. She said that she is certain that as a country we will unite behind our athletes who will continue to honour Malta, and above all make us proud.

SportMalta Chief Executive Mark Cutajar stressed that it is SportMalta’s mission to help create an inclusive society and therefore this contract is of great importance. A contract that will help Special Olympics Malta to be able to reach its objectives more easily, objectives that are not only sporting but also to unleash the potential of every Special Olympics athlete and to support not only the athletes, but also their family. SportMalta is committed that in addition to financial aid, it also helps by hiring a number of specialized coaches to help children in every aspect.

With a fresh design, innovation and accessibility for everyone, SportMalta launched a new website with all its services grouped together.

The site https://sportmalta.mt/ aims to facilitate accessibility for everyone, using the standards issued by the Malta Communications Authority and Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability. This website also offers a number of services under one roof, spread out for all complexes and facilities that fall under SportMalta’s remit.

Apart from various information about SportMalta’s work, these are some of the services available from this site

• Applications for various schemes
• Updated news and information
• General Assistance
• Bookings for sport facilities
• Several SportMalta campaigns
• Tenders and quotations

SportMalta’s CEO said in a comment that both the internet and social media are important tools in all sectors, a website like this one is a must have, and user friendly,  it is inclusive because it offers accessibility for every one.

The winners of the SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali were announced on Saturday evening during a live transmission aired on TSN1 as well as several facebook pages.

The 61st edition was a unique one due to the current Covid-19 pandemic situation in that it was not one in which finalists and guests could interact socially. Instead a virtual ceremony was held within the guidelines of the legal notice issued recently by the Malta Health Authorities.

Guest speakers during this transmission included Hon. Clifton Grima Parliamentary Secretary responsible from Sport, Recreation and Voluntary Organisations, Dr Luciano Busuttil Chairman SportMalta, CEO SportMalta Mark Cutajar and Sandro Micallef President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association.

Once again this annual awards ceremony was a joint collaboration between the Malta Sports Journalists Association and SportMalta with the backing of the Government Sport Secretariat.

During the live show hosted by Lorraine Cunningham and Chris Cauchi a total of 11 honours were announced seven of which were a result of the jury vote. The other awards were one due to a popular vote by the public, one the choice of the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association and the other two were given out upon a nomination by Special Olympics.

The honours were won as follows:

Sportsman of the Year – DEJAN GRECH (Eight Ball Pool)

Sportswoman of the Year – HALEY BUGEJA (Football)

Male Sports Youth of the Year – RICHARD SCHULTHEIS (Sailing)

Female Sports Youth of the Year – TENISHIA THORNTON (Weightlifting)

Sports Team of the Year – MALTA NATIONAL FEMALE FOOTBALL TEAM (Football)

Sports Coach of the Year – DEVIS MANGIA (National Men Football Team Coach)

Sports Official of the Year – JOSEPH MUSCAT (General Secretary Malta Basketball Association)

International Sports Event of the Year – EIGHT BALL POOL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

People’s Choice Award  – MARK MARLOW (President Malta Employees Sport Association)

Special Olympics Male Athlete Award – MARK SERGE (Ten Pin Bowling)

Special Olympics Female Athlete Award – KLARA ZAMMIT (Open Water Swimming)

SportMalta was partner in an EU funded project which recognized that the role of sport officials is vital in sport. Sport officials ensure that participants compete within the spirit of the sport or activity through the impartial and consistent application of its rules and laws.

The ONSIDE project explored and defined, for the first time at the EU level, the generic competences, skills and knowledge expected of sport officials – covering all sports and nations.  The education component of the project included the development and delivery of brand new training through innovative learning methods, including e-learning courses.

ONSIDE was a three-year project running from January 2018 to December 2020 and was funded through the European Union Erasmus+ Programme.

The useful outputs of this project can be obtained through the following link.

http://www.onside-sport.eu/library/

This morning in front of the premises of the Maltese Olympic Committee, an agreement was signed wherein the Maltese Olympic Committee were granted the sum of €2.7 million by SportMalta, for the next 4 years.

The agreement was signed during a press conference during which, the President of the Maltese Olympic Committee, Julian Pace Bonello, stated that thanks to this, the Committee can work more independently. He also said that the agreement will help athletes reach their goals and that the local sports level during international competition will rise.

SportMalta’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Cutajar, said that SportMalta will be giving the tools to the Committee, to work in an independent manner. In the meantime, this agreement will help the Committee plan for 4 years.

Cutajar, also said that by making this agreement, there will be a basis to guarantee that the investment in the athletes will translate into good results, both for them and for the country.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Honourable Clifton Grima informed that this agreement will give peace of mind and a very strong basis so that the Olympic Committee can work in a wise manner. He also reminded that our country will be hosting large sporting events in the coming years.

Parliamentary Secretary Honourable Clifton Grima finished by saying that, in the coming weeks another big investment will be done in our country’s athletes.

The Executive Committee of the Sports Journalists Association is officially publishing the list of semi-finalists of this year’s edition of SportMalta Awards – Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali.

Following the end of the nomination process by the local Associations and Federations, the Executive Committee of the Sports Journalists Association made its assessment of the sporting achievements during the year 2020 and came up with the list of six semi-finalists in each category.

Meanwhile, the voting process has started by all the members of the Sports Journalists Association who have until Wednesday 3^rd March to shortlist all the categories for three finalists.

The Finalists will eventually be announced on Saturday 6^th March at 10:30 am via a Press Conference which will be broadcast live on Facebook on the Malta Sports Journalists Association and BeActive SportMalta page.

The final evening of the 61st edition of SportMalta Awards – Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali will be held on Saturday 13^th March where a panel of journalists will be voting to determine who will get the honours of the Sportiv tas-Sena, Sportiva tas-Sena, Żagħżugħ tas-Sena, Żagħżugħa tas-Sena, Uffiċċjal tas-Sena, Coach tas-Sena and Team tas-Sena.

SPORTIV TAS-SENA

FARRUGIA LUKE – ATHLETICS

GATT RODNEY – HORSE RACING

GREEK DEJAN – POOL

PLUMPTON BEN – WATERPOLO

SAYWELL JEREMY – JUDO

SPITERI MARK – TEN PIN BOWLING

SPORTIVA TAS-SENA

ABELA SUE – TEN PIN BOWLING

BUGEJA HALEY – FOOTBALL

CLARK FRANCESCA – BADMINTON

GATT SACHA – SWIMMING

RICHARD JANET – ATHLETICS

ZAMMIT STEVENS YAZMIN – WEIGHTLIFTING

ŻAGĦŻUGĦ TAS-SENA

BORG RYLEE – WEIGHTLIFTING

GATT JEREMY MARK – BADMINTON

LAGANA KAYDEN – TEN PIN BOWLING

SCHULTHEIS RICHARD – BURNING

SCHULZE DOERING LAURENS – GOLF

SULTANA KIJAN – SQUASH

ŻAGĦŻUGĦA TAS-SENA

BUGEJA HALEY – FOOTBALL

CHOUHAL SARAH – ATHLETICS

CLARK FRANCESCA – BADMINTON

GATT SASHA – SWIMMING

THORNTON TENISHIA – WEIGHTLIFTING

VELLA CLARK TARA – GYMNASTICS

COACH TAS-SENA

AQUILINA JOSEPH – POOL

BEREHOVA NATALYA – GYMNASTICS

CARUANA JESMOND – WEIGHTLIFTING

CARUANA DINGLI EDWARD – PARALYMPIC SWIMMING

MANGA DEVIS – FOOTBALL

PISANI DORIAN – WATERPOLO

OFFICIAL OF THE YEAR

AZZOPARDI RITA – WATERPOLO

CASSAR PIERRE – FIGHT

DEGIORGIO VINCENT – POOL

GRECH ANDY – ATHLETICS

MUSCAT JOSEPH – BASKETBALL

ZAMMIT GODWIN – BURNING

TEAM TAS-SENA

FOOTBALL – WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

FUTSAL – LUXOL ST. ANDREWS

EMBODIMENT – ELUSIVE II

POOL – MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

TEN PIN BOWLING – TIM AMF PROMOTION CUP FRANCE

WATERPOLO – ST. JULIAN ASC

In the presence of the minister for Inclusion and Quality of Life the Hon Julia
Farrugia Portelli and the Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Recreation and
Voluntary Organizations the Hon Dr. Clifton Grima, the government through
SportMalta signed a contract wherein the land on which store number 36,
Barriera Wharf, Valletta has been transferred to the Birżebbuġa
Regatta Club.

Minister Julia Farrugia Portelli said how “this Government believes that sport is
one of the contributors for a better quality of life. In fact, this year we are
investing €13 million in projects and capital investment in sports, to give young
people the best platforms to practice different disciplines”. She mentioned
that after years of waiting, this project will make a big difference for the
Birżebbuġa Regatta Club rowers, who now can now train at the Grand Harbour
itself, therefore on the actual elements and currents in which the regatta takes
place. She concluded by saying that “our country is very fortunate to find many
volunteers to run sports entities amongst others. If it wasn’t for them it would
not have been easy for such entities not only to be initiated but to continue.
Therefore it is the duty of the Government to do everything possible to assist
this voluntary work.”

Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Clifton Grima explained how through this transfer
Regatta Club Birżebbuġa will have a store where they can keep their boats. He
went on to say that the Government’s commitment is to continue to fulfil its
electoral sports promises. He stated that this Government wants to adopt and
strengthen a sports culture from an early age. “As a Government, we are aware
that to do this we need to invest in sports facilities and associations
themselves, and that’s what we’re doing today. We believe in giving facilities
and help so that sports clubs can continue to grow and improve their services,
ultimately our children will gain and enjoy it all. This Government is committed
in investing so together we do another leap in quality. We want every sport to
be given the opportunity to flourish” said the Parliamentary Secretary.

Dr Luciano Busuttil, SportMalta Chairman reminded that this land donation
process boosts sports associations to continue to grow and attract more
youngsters and children to sport. When a club is given land, it is given autonomy to grow without other direct help by attracting investment.
Birżebbuġa Regatta Club president, Mr. Ian Farrugia described this event as a
dream come true, through which the club is looking forward to continuing
offering the best training necessary, now more than before since the land has
been transferred to them. This Government is committed to carry out various
projects for the benefit of several sport disciplines, while encouraging
organizations to get up and strengthen so to give athletes all the space to

develop and excel in sports.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Recreation and Voluntary Organizations the
Hon Dr. Clifton Grima, along with Pembroke Local Council Mayor, Mr Dean Hili
and SportMalta Chief Executive Officer Mr Mark Cutajar, inaugurated a
basketball pitch in the 4 th of July Garden, with a total investment of around
€105,000 from SportMalta and the Pembroke Local Council.
Besides the renovation of the surrounding garden and change of fencing, the
investment includes painting of the basketball pitch floor and the installation
of new lighting and basketball equipment.
In his speech, Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Clifton Grima emphasized that
because of this investment many families will benefit from this open space
which has been abandoned for the last few years. Whilst thanking SportMalta
and the Pembroke Local Council for their valuable work, he stressed that
SportMalta is in the process of assessing different sites around Malta and Gozo
to transform them into sports facilities that will serve as recreation for the

whole family.
“These facilities will be rebuilt or renovated with the intention to bring
communities closer together for more social interaction”, added Parliamentary
Secretary Dr.Grima.
SportMalta Chief Executive Mark Cutajar said that one of SportMalta’s main
goals is to encourage children and young people to practice sports and physical
activity outdoors. That is why SportMalta has invested €600,000 so together
with Local Councils they identify playing fields and open spaces to be used for
outdoor sports.
Pembroke Mayor Mr Dean Hili stressed that over the last two legislatures the
need has been felt to revitalize this public space, although repairs were carried
out regularly, a substantial financial injection was needed to improve the
facilities to meet our aspirations. He called for respect for these new facilities
so our youngsters will be able to practice sports and enjoy the open space for
free.