The GSSE2 023 Volunteering Programme was launched this morning at an event hosted by
the Maltese Olympic Committee and SportMalta which was attended by Hon. Dr. Clifton
Grima, Minister for Education, Sport, Research, Innovation and Youth as well as a number of
other guests.

Welcoming those present was Local Organising Committee Chairman Mark Cutajar started
off by congratulating the results achieved by Maltese Tennis players Francesca Curmi and
Elaine Genovese who brought a Silver Medal to Malta from their participation in the
Mediterranean Games. This augurs well and serves as a motivation for other athletes to
continue their commitment to preparing for these Games. Cutajar went on to explain that
recent statistics on volunteer engagement show that this is not an easy task however there
has been a lot of background work with several entities both from a government side as well
as other private entities to assist on attracting volutneers from all sectors of society. This will
also bring about more awareness of the Games and eventual support throughout the event.

Speaking at the event was Ian Restall who has countless hours of volunteering time and who
explained that volunteering is an enriching experience that will leave an indelible mark on all
those involved. Joining him was Joseph Cassar, who also has a wealth of experience in
volunteer co-ordination and who will be co-ordinating the Volunteer Programme for 2023.

Maltese Olympic Committee Vice President and Chef de Mission for the Games, Paul
Sultana highlighting their vital role and the considerable need for a strong pool of volunteers
who will be contributing to a positive experience for the estimated, 1000 athletes 500
officials across 10 disciplines and 11 venues. Sultana concluded bu thanking Joseph Cassar
who, together with his team have been undertaking crucial work, to engage volunteers, with
various institutions to engage volunteers such as MCAST, IPES and ITS who have
committed their support towards these campaigns.

Dr. Clifton Grima, Minister for Education, Sport, Youth Research and Innovation concluded
the event by explaining that "Substantial preparations are being made for this sporting
event and today we are taking another step by making this call for all those who wish to
participate as volunteers". He went on to say that a lot of work is underway in preparation
for this event, which is not only related to infrastructural work in sports facilities, but there
also organizational work, consultation and coordination meetings. "We are involving
everyone in this organization because we want it to be an experience that not only our
athletes enjoy, but also the people in general," concluded Minister Grima.

Individuals who wish to be part of the GSSE 2023 Volunteers’ Programme are invited to
register their interest online via this link – https://nocmalta.org/gsse-2023/ Interested parties
will be invited to undergo an interview and subsequent training will also be given.

This morning the Principal Permanent Secretary, Mr. Tony Sultana visited SportMalta Head Office at the Cottonera Sports Complex. Mr. Sultana was welcomed by SportMalta CEO Mr. Mark Cutajar along with SportMalta employees from various Sports Complexes under SportMalta’s remit.

Mr Sultana had an informal conversation with employees with different roles in the entity.  He was particularly impressed by the work and dedication shown by all staff.  Mr. Sultana visited SportMalta’s main project, the new indoor Olympic size pool which will be an extension of the existing complex.  The projects is an investment of 13 million Euro from Government funds.   During Mr. Sultana along with CEO Mr. Cutajar went around each department discussing the their operations and the challenges that these departments face  in their operations.

Mr. Cutajar accompanied by SportMalta top Management had a private meeting with  Mr. Sultana and a presentation on the entity’s strategy and projects were presented .  This included the ongoing projects and other projects planned in the short term. The involvement of SportMalta in various events was discussed including the yearly appointment with the President’s Solidarity Fun Run, The Special Olympics International Games in 2022 and the Games of  Small States of Europe  happening in Malta next year.

Mr Sultana thanked the Entity for the work done and was impressed by the volume of work that SportMalta is managing to do throughout the years.  He also encouraged more athletes and former athletes to be part of its staff in order to ensure better understanding of the needs of registered clubs and Associations.  SportMalta CEO thanked Mr Sultana for this visit and wished him luck in his new important appointment.  On behalf of all employees, he ensured that SportMalta will keep on working as a catalyst for sport and physical activity on the island.

At the Cottonera Sports Complex work has is well underway, the project has now entered its third and
final phase, following substantial works on the location where Cottonera’s first Olympic size indoor pool
will be built in preparation for the upcoming Games of the Small States of Europe 2023.

During a recent visit to the site, Minister for Sport and Education Clifton Grima said, that this is another
project that is now being carried out and that reflects the Government’s commitment to strengthening the
athletic infrastructure in Malta.

The Minister of Education and Sport, Clifton Grima revealed that, following the completion of the site’s
excavation, work on the pool and public stands, which will cost €14 million, has begun and works are in
progress.

Mark Cutajar, Chief Executive Officer SportMalta, said that the indoor pool, through its versatility, will
cater for different abilities and will also serve as a respite for the load on other athletic pools. This pool
will cater for all neighbouring schools and will also upgrade the standards of the inner harbour area.

After announcing details of a €3 million investment to upgrade the Athletics Stadium in Marsa to an
international level, we are seeing another project today that will boost aquatic sport in Malta and continue
to grow our facilities to help local athletes achieve the highest level possible.

SportMalta is pleased to announce that the negotiations on the new collective agreement for the period 2021-2024 were concluded and the agreement was signed on 4th October 2021.

The Entity which has a mission to facilitate inclusion and a healthy lifestyle through sport and physical activity is expanding its facilities with a number of infrastructural projects to create more high level places for the mission targets to be reached. The employees covered by this agreement are crucial in achieving these targets Moreover, they are contributing to move SportMalta to new highs with record participation in its programmes and record number of events to promote physical activity and sport towards a healthy lifestyle.

The agreement puts forward a 2.7% increase in financial package and also addressed some abnormalities in previous agreements. A number of family friendly measures make the agreement more attractive to its employees. Moreover this agreement offers to facilitate career development.

CEO Mark Cutajar thanked all involved including the Industrial Relations Unit within the Office of the Prime Minister, UHM representative, Human Resources Department of the entity and workers representatives for the smooth negotiations in between parties during a particularly challenging moment. He stated that this agreement gives the required tools to one of the best teams of employees on the island to continue to excel.

The agreement was signed by Mark Cutajar CEO and Dr Luciano Busuttil Chairman of SportMalta, Mario Sacco and Isabelle Farrugia on behalf of UHM and Darren Brincat and Michael Micallef representing the employees.

The signing of the agreement was overseen by Hon. Clifton, Parliamentary Secretary for Sport

Following the success of the Summer On The Move program over the summer, for another year, SportMalta is launching the program for the winter season. During the winter season, the program will be offering more opportunities for children and adults to be physically active and practice their favourite sport. During this program, academies will be strengthened to give more opportunities to all children to reach higher levels in sport.

Robert Portelli, Head of Programmes within SportMalta, pointed out that the aim of SportMalta is for every child to be able to practice sport regardless of the resources of their parents or carers, so that we can ensure a more active and healthy generation.

In addition to the winter program On The Move, SportMalta is also launching a sports and educational campaign for the public. Rose Marie Mercieca, coordinator of the European Week of Sport said that against the background where there is a growing percentage of people across the European Union who do not engage in physical activity or play sports, SportMalta – as part of its mission to lead Malta through the promotion and development of sport for Malta strong, inclusive and successful, and in its position of the National Coordinating Body of the European Week of Sport – launched a special campaign to achieve its goals.

The campaign consists of a number of videos with different themes, which show examples and possibilities of how to be active through sport and education. The aim of this initiative is to create a balance, where the subject is treated from different perspectives, notably that of a coach, teacher, parent, athletes from different backgrounds, and the sports volunteer who has a very specific nature.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Recreation and Voluntary Organizations Clifton Grima expressed his satisfaction with the success of the Summer On The Move program and announced that 1,000 applications had already been submitted for the winter program. “This competition and this sporting activism fills us with courage and determination to continue to plan such programs for children and adults of all ages,” the parliamentary secretary continued.

Parliamentary Secretary for Sport, Recreation and Voluntary Organisations Clifton Grima launches Winter on the Move

The Chief Executive of SportMalta stressed how this year’s edition of the European Week of Sport was a great success. The activities had a good response from the general public, athletes, clubs and associations. Therefore, as a dynamic entity, SportMalta has launched a media campaign on education and sport and on the need for more volunteers in the field of sports, now that major events have arrived in our country such as the Special Olympics 2022 and the Games of the Small Countries of Europe in 2023.

He also said that these programs, in addition to their main goal being sports activism from a young age, send the message that sport is for everyone regardless of a person’s ages and resources. “The government, together with SportMalta, is looking forward to preparing more programs and a campaigns to have a more active and physically and mentally healthy people”

On the occasion of the European Week of Sport on Sunday 26 September 2021 at the National Shooting Complex of Candia, a competition was held for a straight shot shooting competition.

20 shooters participated in the qualifying session on 50 plates, of which six shooters qualify as finalists.

The final was held on 25 plates for which the shooters Joseph Galea, John Gauci, John Mary Camilleri, Gordon Tanti, Keith Portelli and Noel Muscat qualified.

Shooter John Galea took first place with the largest amount with a total of 73 plates, followed by shooter John Gauci with a total of 72 plates, in third place finished John Mary Camilleri with a total of 71 plates.

Zebbug Tennis Club organized an event entitled  a Doubles//Singles Tournament for Beginners and Semi Beginners.

This was held on 24^th September 2021 from 7 to 11:30pm whereby 22 players from different walks of life and with different abilities were divided into 3 teams.

Besides the physical aspect and Fun comradeship, there was also an element of competitiveness whereby one did his utmost both physically and tennis wise to win.

Trophies were presented to winners//runner ups and a bag was kindly also donated to each participant by Sport Malta who are always foremost to help us to encourage sportive activity.

Minister for Inclusion  and Quality of Life  Julia Farrugia  Portelli  together  with Parliamentary Secretary  for  Sport,  Recreation and Voluntary Organisations  Clifton  Grima  and SportMalta CEO    Mark Cutajar  announced €21,000  in financial assistance to  Frame Football Malta,   to purchase  31  specialist  frames  for  disabled  children to be  able  to  play  football.

Frame Football is a suitable football game concept for children who need   a walking frame or crutches  to  play football. This investment is ensuring and ascertaining that every child who needs some kind of  mobile help   and  wants to  play football like the rest of the children  can  do this.

This investment further confirms the government’s policy of having an inclusive society so  that  together, as  one nation,  we improve  our abilities.

The Minister  for Inclusion  and Quality of Life  Julia Farrugia  Portelli  said that the principle of inclusion  contributes  greatly  to a better quality of life.  This investment shows tangibly how the principle of inclusion is not only  one  on   paper. Inclusion  in sport  is  one of the cornerstones  of the  national strategy for  persons  with disabilities. This will be launched in the coming  weeks. 

The Minister  stressed the importance    of continuing  to  create an environment  where  disabled persons  feel  comfortable doing  what  others do, even if in different ways.  The contribution  of  voluntary organisations,  such as  Frame Football Malta,  strengthens our work  in this direction.

 Parliamentary Secretary  Clifton  Grima  said    that  today  is a historic  day for inclusion in Maltese  sport  and for children with  disabilities . “Sport  unites us,  but to be  able  to  truly  say  that  through  sport  everyone  is  included we need to keep  investing in equipment,  irrispective of a person’s  ability. The Parliamentary Secretary  said  that the government’s mission  is,  that apart from achieving prestigious results,  every individual should have access to practice and participate in sport.

Parliamentary  Secretary  Grima    added  that this investment in frame football equipment, besides having  an impact  on  children  and  young people with  disabilities, will  help them   improve  their   social skills, communication and self-confidence . “These investments  exemplifies the government’s message  that it  really  is a government for the people. We  are committed     to    create opportunities  for  each  individual to improve,”   the Parliamentary Secretary concluded .

  SportMalta    CEO Mark Cutajar  stressed  that this investment is a fundamental  part of SportMalta’s mission  , which helps  to    achieve   a stronger, more inclusive and  successful society.

Frame Football Malta President Rita Darmanin Carbonaro  said  that the investment has provided a necessary  tool  for  these children  and young people  to   further  develop  their love for the football game.    This puts us on  an equal  footing  with  clubs    abroad with  whom they  can  participate  and  compete in tournaments  and  other sporting activities.