In its efforts to further develop the European dimension of Sport, the European Commission has launched the European Week of Sport, an initiative to promote participation in sport and physical activity among European citizens. Looking back to the success of last year, more than 15.000 local events were organised with around 10 million participants across Europe.

This year will mark the third edition of the European Week of Sport. This growing initiative led by the European Commission will take place from 23 to 30 September.

To reach out to even more Europeans with a positive encouragement to be active all year long, the European Commission saw that the role of the National Sport Ambassadors is crucial.  That is why a meeting was held today in Brussels between all European National Sport Ambassadors to establish as from this year a Network of #BeActive Ambassadors, which would include all ambassadors who wish to keep the #BeActive message alive (from the ones who started in 2015 to the ones who will join us as from 2017 edition).

Mr. Karl Izzo, National Team Waterpolo Coach, appointed by SportMalta in 2016 to be the National Sport Ambassador for the #BeActive Campaign, represented Malta in the first important meeting  held in Brussels today. The Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella was also present for this activity.

In order to formally recognise and thank all Ambassadors for their key role in promoting the value of sport throughout the #BeActive campaign, the European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Mr. Tibor Navracsics together with the European Commission took the opportunity today 21 June to meet and brief the National Sport Ambassadors with their role as a #BeActive Ambassador.

Sport Ambassador of the campaign and world champion for France 1998, Christian Karembeu said, “We can use sport as a tool for education but also as a tool for integration”.  This goes at par with the Maltese Presidency Priorities for Sport to act as a platform for social inclusion. A council conclusion in this regard was presented and approved by the council of ministers last May.

Advocacy for healthy active living is however needed more than ever to counter the challenges linked to citizens’ inactivity. In this context, the role of #BeActive Ambassadors is essential. To enhance the visibility and scope of the #BeActive message, we are establishing a Network of all #BeActive Ambassadors who would like to continue to be the champions of an active lifestyle for fellow citizens.

The Malta International Open Grand Prix 2017 was officially opened this morning by The Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sports, Hon Clifton Grima in the presence of MSSF President Mr.Saviour Portelli at the  shooting ranges in Bidnija.

In his inauguration speech Dr. Grima welcomed the one hundred forty participants from eight Nations, including Malta, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Brazil, France, Georgia and Italy.

This was the first official engagement for Hon Clifton Grima where he mentioned his secretariat commitment regarding The National Shooting Complex  project, hopefully to be ready in time for The ISSF World Cup Malta 2018.

These events includes The Skeet, Double Trap and Trap events that will take place next week.

The Skeet event will start on Monday with the first 75 clays and another 50 clays on Tuesday with the final stages in the afternoon.

On Wednesday morning The Double Trap event will commence with 150 clays and the final stages in the afternoon.

On Saturday morning The Trap event starts with 75 clays trap and another 50 clays on Sunday morning. The Trap final stages will be on Sunday afternoon, with the prensentation ceremony to follow.

This event is mainly sponsored by The Malta Tourism Authortity, The APS, RedOctober, Shooting Supplies, Sirup Ltd and SportMalta.

Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport signed a letter of intent to concede land adjacent to the Hibernians Pavilion to the Hibernians Basketball Club.

Chris Agius highlighted the importance of providing children with the opportunity to practise a favourite sport, and the value acquired when a person works within a team as this is fundamental in one’s life. He stressed that the synergy and the results achieved are more effective when one possesses such skills.

He referred to the next important step mentioning the implementation of the commercialisation law of sport facilities. As the expenses of the clubs are increasing consistently such law will allow them to be sustainable and hence reduce costs.

Charles Deguara, president of the Hibernians Basketball Club said that the need for a new pavilion is essential as the current one is now being used for all Futsal competitions resulting in the renting of four gyms to meet with the demand of the basketball teams and to provide the necessary location for the training. He explained the unique educational value acquired through sport as children learn how to respect both team members and adversaries, values that are essential in everyday life.

Once the Planning Authority grants the necessary authorization and Parliament approves the transfer of land by temporary emphyteusis to the Hibernians Basketball Club, infrastructural works can immediately commence. The project is estimated to cost around 1 million euros and will be totally financed through private investment.

SportMalta has passed on the management of the bocci pitch in Blue Grotto Avenue, Zurrieq to the Local Council so that an open gym can be developed for the community.

An agreement between both parties was signed in the presence of Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport. He stated that through this initiative a place that was not being utilised would now be developed to serve the local community by providing a sport facility. This initiative follows a number of other projects that are being developed in local communities. In fact, a renovated jogging track in Santa Lucija and the Fgura Adventure Park were recently inaugurated.

Ignatius Farrugia, Mayor of Zurrieq said that this is a positive investment for the community as he described the people of Zurrieq as being active and who enjoy engaging in daily physical activity. Moreover, he said that the local council has the necessary funds needed to develop the project that is being estimated to cost around 23,000 euros.

The Chairman of SportMalta, Luciano Busuttil expressed his satisfaction that local councils are realising the importance of living a healthy lifestyle and remarked that this is in line with SportMalta’s mission statement to move a nation.

MOVE Week is an annual Europe-wide event taking place in May. It is an integral part of the NowWeMOVE campaign. The objective of MOVE Week is to promote the benefits of being active and participating regularly in sport and physical activity throughout Europe.

A wide range of promoters of physical activity (who we call MOVE Agents) coordinate events, including existing and new physical activities, for MOVE Week. In 2017 every country can choose when to implement MOVE Week in the timeframe of 29 May – 04 June according to their specific needs.

This timeframe coincides with the official dates of the European Week of Sport (EWOS) for national events. MOVE Week National Coordinators can therefore choose one week between the official EWOS dates to stage MOVE Week in their countries.

MOVE Week and the NowWeMOVE campaign are being coordinated centrally by the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) in collaboration with the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF). MOVE Week is financially supported by the European Union.

Infrastructural works are currently underway and in their third week at the Basketball Pavilion at Ta’ Qali. The project is totally financed by SportMalta.

This morning, Hon Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport visited the site and viewed the works accompanied by Paul Sultana, President of the Malta Basketball Association.

The project is expected to be completed by August in time for the opening of the upcoming season.

Last Tuesday was an important milestone for the Maltese Presidency in the field of Sport when during the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council, all the Ministers of the 28 members states unanimously approved two important documents that were presented by the Maltese Presidency through the able work of SportMalta during the last six and more months.

SportMalta through its presidency unit managed to reach consensus amongst members states during six working party meetings, a council conclusion on Sport as a platform for social Inclusion through volunteering. The council conclusion states that volunteering plays a key role, including people within a community by strengthening the role of active citizens, increasing employability, promoting values and intercultural dialogue. Volunteering in sport, in addition to developing a variety of skills and competences, provides young people with opportunities in non-formal and formal learning.

This was followed by a resolution for the European Union work plan for sport that will give a road map for Sport in the European Union from 2017 till 2020.  The work plan addresses the integrity of sport, the economic dimension of sport and sport and society as its main themes.

Both documents will help as guidelines for all spectra of sport in Europe not only as member states, but also for European Commission and the most important stakeholders in the field of sport.

This council was proceeded by an interesting structure dialogue who had the presence amongst other stakeholders of Tibor Navracsics, the EU commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport.  The Malta presidency team chose ‘Utilizing Sports Media to strengthen Social Inclusion’ as main theme for this dialogue.  Moreover to add value to this dialogue, Bill Bush, Executive Director of the English Football Premier League, accepted the invitation and presented the way the Premier League uses part of its income to serve the community through social responsibility.  AIPS Europe President Charles Camenzuli and Pierre Cassar from the University of Malta added value through their input to the discussion.  This dialogue was followed during the Council of Ministers and brought many encouraging comments from Ministers for the validity of the topic, which is also featured in the next EU Work plan.

The EYCS Council brings to a close the official work related the Maltese EU Presidency in the field of Sport.  However the last event for SportMalta during the Presidency will be a joint event together with Agenzija Zghazagh and EUPA being Sport, Youth and Democracy seminar, during the last week of June.

250,000 euros financial assistance presented by SportMalta to sport associations and athletes during the first ceremony for 2017.

In total 35 associations/athletes benefitted from this assistance. The ceremony took place at the Bocci Club of Senglea, one of the clubs of the beneficiaries.

#OnTheMove – winter programme, organised by SportMalta with the support of Kellogg’s, topped off its 2016-2017 programme with an entertaining sports show. Participants of #OnTheMove programme gathered at the Marsa Sport Grounds to showcase their sport abilities in front of proud parents, relatives and friends.

Compered by popular TV personality Joe Tanti, the event kicked off with various mini tournaments including football, athletics and basketball, while BMX participants performed their cycling skills on a BMX track. Adults also shared the limelight, with a number of physical exercises demonstrating what #OnTheMove fitness classes are all about.

Hon. Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sports praised the coaches for their dedication. He expressed his gratitude to parents who chose year after year to enrol their children in both the winter and the summer programmes. He said that SportMalta will be continuing in its mission to get sports and physical activity as part of the lives of the Maltese community.

During a short address, SportMalta Chairman Hon. Dr Luciano Busuttil expressed his appreciation that this year’s #OnTheMove – winter programme saw an increase in both enrolment figures and the number of different sports offered – over 50 disciplines. He also thanked Kellogg’s for their continued support throughout these past 17 years.

During a short address Mr Simon Pace, Sales Manager at Charles Darmanin Co Ltd,  Kellogg’s distributors in Malta, said: “For the past 17 years Kellogg’s has embarked on sponsoring the winter sports programme of SportMalta, formerly known as Skolasport.  #OnTheMove winter programme offers many different sport disciplines, where children can learn the skills, tactics and rules of the game. We believe in SportMalta’s valuable contribution in developing sport talents among the young Maltese children.”

At the end of the show, Mr Pace presented the Kellogg’s sponsorship to SportMalta Chairman Dr Luciano Busuttil.