The Primary Schools’ Football Festival was played in the week of the 1^st of March. This event is organised by the Sport Promotion Unit (SPU) within SportMalta and the Directorate for Quality and Standards in Education (DQSE) together with the Malta Football Association’s Grassroots Department within the Technical Centre.

This friendly event, held for Year 5s and Year 6s for both Boys and Girls saw the following 28 schools participating with 56 teams; Pembroke Primary, Sliema Primary, St. Julian’s Primary, Gzira Primary, Rabat Primary, Mellieha Primary, San Gwann Primary, Marsaskala Primary, Tarxien Primary, Marsaxlokk Primary, Zurrieq Primary, Zejtun Primary, Cospicua Primary, Qrendi Primary, Fgura Primary, Birzebbugia Primary, Marsaskala Primary, Hamrun S.S. Primary, Sta. Venera Primary, Zebbug Primary, Valletta Primary, Floriana Primary, Pieta’ Primary, Paola B. Primary, Qormi S. S. Primary, Birkirkara Primary, Luqa Primary, Siggiewi Primary and Verdala International School.

Following the first phase where teachers selected the team to represent each school, this phase saw schools under the same college playing against each other. The PE teachers are now selecting the elite players from among the teams who took part in this penultimate phase to represent the college team in the final phase.

This year saw a historic change for the girls, where rather than including mixed boys and girls’ teams (with girls being represented by 2 out of a team of 5), schools were to participate with two (2) teams – one team of boys and one team of girls. This falls part of the MFA Long term development plan to further the growth in the women’s game.

The tournament has been held at the new SportMalta Sta. Venera Sports Complex seeing over 700 boys and girls aged 9 to 11.

The organisers would again like to express their satisfaction and thank all the participants from all schools, sponsors TeamSport and GSD Marketing Ltd. for making the tournament a success. The MFA and Educational entities are looking forward to an exciting final phase in April.

The first day of The European Sport Forum opened with an introductory welcome session by Mark Cutajar, Director General for Sport followed by interventions by the Deputy Director General Education, Youth, Sport and Culture of the European Commission Jens Nymand Christensen, Petra Kammervert, chair of the CULT committee in the European Parliament and by European Olympic Committee acting President, Janez Koclijancic. Cutajar said that it is with great pleasure that the European Sport Forum will give an onset to a series of events here in Malta as it will be followed by the European Youth Sport Forum and the Director Generals’ meeting that in all will unite more than 500 delegates to our island to discuss sport. He also highlighted the work that is being done under the Maltese presidency in particular the EU Work plan for Sport and the council conclusion on Sport as a platform for social inclusion.

Various current topics where discussed during the sessions on the first day, mainly sport diplomacy, gender based violence in sport, employability, inclusion and the role of volunteers, digital technology in sport, Anti-Doping, environmental impact of sport and social platform for sports. Amongst the Maltese speakers Hon Chris Agius who is the EU representative on anti-doping was involved in a panel debate discussing what needs to be done in order to restore trust in the anti-doping system. Michael McNamee from the Swansea University in Wales and former Slovenian high-jumper Rozle Prezelj who is the Chair of IAAF athletes’ commission also took part in this debate. The session was moderated by German Station ARD presenter Hajo Seppelt.

On the other hand the Malta Basketball President Paul Sultana participated in the panel debate focusing on the possibility of having more inclusive societies in particular through the role of volunteering. This session which was all focussed around the Maltese Presidency priorities was introduced by Mark Cutajar. Cutajar highlighted the rationale behind the priorities and various best practices that Malta adapted successfully in the last years to include vulnerable members in local communities most importantly the On the Move programme, Move 360 and the horse racing academy. The European Parliament representative Bogdan Wenta, David Evangelista from Special Olympics Europe and Raimonds Elbakjans from the Ghetto Games 2016, gave their input during this session as panellists. The session was moderated by Agata Dziarnowska, Policy Officer of the European Commission. Sultana argued that in these days it is not very easy to find volunteers, and some sort of motivation and certification should be given for volunteers to be kept on board. He praised SportMalta first ever certification platform for volunteers.

www.eu17sportmalta.com

Following months of intensive refurbishment and maintenance works, SportMalta has re-opened the National Pool Complex to the associations, clubs and clients.

Following 20 years of abandon the Government has fulfilled its electoral promise and returned to the Maltese people a newly restored facility of the highest national and international level.

Refurbishment works included:

Maintenance of both swimming pools, including a new floor for main pool

Non Slip tiles on deck;

Water proofing of deck floor to safeguard structure and tunnels around the pools

New Hand Rails on all Ramps on deck

Upgrade of ASA Store room

Double Gutter system all around the pool for sanitary reasons;

  Swimming Lines according to FINA rules

Both sides with non-slip tiles

 Electrical system (for Time Trials and Water Polo games) mainly all under the deck, so wiring above the floor limited which is 100% safe

An additional 8 new starting blocks

Water system all around the swimming pool under the deck which makes easier to clean deck on a daily basis

New partitions for all the offices at ground floor

Uplift of the whole deck area (plastering / painting / eliminated all eye sore cables etc.)

 Diving Structure was demolished (health hazard) so deck area has increased in size for the better use of swimmers and water polo players;

New stainless steel ladders

Tomorrow SportMalta kicks-off its activities in relation to the Maltese Presidency of The European Union as 350 delegates from all over Europe will take part in The European Sport Forum to be held in St. Julian’s.

The forum is being organised by The European Commission in collaboration with SportMalta and will bring together stakeholders hailing from various sectors in the field.

www.eu17sportmalta.com

Is-Sibt filgħaxija saret is-56 edizzjoni ta’ SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali, serata li fiha ġew ippremjati atleti kif ukoll uffiċjali għall-kisbiet tagħhom matul is-sena 2016.

Ir-rebbieħa kollha ta’ SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali, li kienu organizzati b’mod konġunt bejn SportMalta, l-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports u mis-Segretarjat Parlamentari għar-Riċerka, Innovazzjoni, Żgħażagħ u Sport huma dawn:

Sportiv tas-Sena: Duncan  Micallef (Drag Racing)

Sportiva tas-Sena: Tiziana Carannante (Ten Pin Bowling)

Żagħżugħ tas-Sena: Ben Plumpton (Waterpolo)

Żagħżugħa tas-Sena: Helene Pellicano (Tennis)

Team tas-Sena: Team Nazzjonali Malti tal-Football U21

Uffiċjal tas-Sena: Esther Azzopardi (Football)

Coach tas-Sena: Silvio Vella (Football)

People’s Choice Award: John Zammit (Ċikliżmu)

Waqt is-serata ngħataw unuri oħra fosthom lill-Assoċjazzjoni Maltija tal-Badminton għall-aħjar avveniment internazzjonali organizzat f’Malta u lil Joe Bajada li ddistingwa ruħu bil-ħidma tiegħu fil-gżira Għawdxija.  Mark Agius (Bocce) u Ann Marie Bugeja (Ġinnastika) ingħataw l-unur tal-iktar atleti ta’ Special Olympics li spikkaw matul is-sena 2016.

Is-serata li xxandret b’mod dirett fuq TVM2 kellha preżentazzjoni minn Pamela Schembri. Waqt is-serata saru diskorsi miċ- Chairman ta’ SportMalta, Luciano Busuttil, mill- President tal-Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports Charles Camenzuli, miċ-Chairman tal-Kumitat Organizzattiv Mark Cutajar u mis-Segretarju Parlamentarigħar-Riċerka, Innovazzjoni, Żgħażagħ u Sport Chris Agius.

Repetizzjoni tas-serata ta’ SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportvi Nazzjonali tixxandar fil-jiem li ġejjin fuq TVM2 u tkun disponibbli wkoll on-demand fuq tvm.com.mt

Please be informed that the National Pool Complex will be open again for the public on Wednesday 8^th March.

We would like to thank all our clients for their patience, understanding and support during this period.

SportMalta has distributed the value of over 200,000 euros in assistance schemes to 52 associations and federations during the first ceremony held this year at Fort St. Angelo, Vittoriosa.

SportMalta and the Malta Olympic Committee have signed a breakthrough agreement that grants 2 and a half million euros from SportMalta to MOC over a period of 4 years thus fulfilling an electoral commitment.

The contract allows for better management as it makes it possible for MOC to plan way in advance the distribution of the funds available to assist athletes in their preparation for international competitions such as the 2020 Olympics, The Small Nations Games in 2019 and 2021 taking place in Montenegro and Andorra respectively and the Commonwealth Games of 2018.

Apart from the 2.5 million covered by the contract, MOC will also receive other significant funds specifically directed towards the development of young athletes to participate in the 2023 Small Nations Games. The Malta Olympic Committee is currently bidding to host this event in Malta, in the meantime the amount in 2018 will be that of 105,000 euros.

On the other hand SportMalta is investing in the renovation of its sports facilities so as to be able to host the Small Nations Games in 2023. It is also committed to continue in its financing of full-time employees of The Malta Olympic Committee such as the laboratory doctor and further supports the Olympic Committee by leasing out the office space for free.

The agreement was signed by Luciano Busuttil, Chairman of SportMalta and Julian Pace Bonello, President of the Malta Olympic Committee in the presence of the Parliamentary Secretary, Chris Agius, Mark Cutajar, SportMalta’s CEO and Joe Cassar, Secretary of The Malta Olympic Committee.

The finalists of the Sport Malta Awards- Għazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali organised by SportMalta and Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports, were announced yesterday during a press conference held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre.

For another consecutive year the event will be divided in 7 main categories and it will be aired LIVE on TVM 2 on Saturday 25th February from the Mediterranean Conference Centre. The winners will be selected through a live voting system by sports journalists representing the different media houses in Malta.

This year’s edition that will recognize the achievements in the different levels of sports will comprise of the traditional below categories:

Sportsman of the Year, Sportswoman of the Year, Team of the Year, Coach of the Year, Official of the Year, Male and Female Youth of the year and Award for the best initiative for the organization of an international event in Malta., Male and Female Special Olympics Award and Best Gozitan Athlete.

The finalists were chosen following a vote carried out by the sports journalists, members of the Għaqda Ġurnalisti Sports. There are 6 finalists in 4 of the categories as there were equal votes for the fifth placing.

The finalists are:

Sportsman of the Year

Camilleri Stevie – Waterpolo

Chetcuti William – Shooting

Degiorgio Charles – Horseracing

Micallef Duncan – Drag Racing

Xuereb Nathan – Shooting

Sportswoman of the Year

Abela Sue – Ten Pin Bowling

Carannante Tiziana – Ten Pin Bowling

Pellicano Helene – Tennis

Wingfield Charlotte – Athletics

Zammit Stevens Yazmin – Weightlifting

Official of the Year: (6)

Azzopardi Esther – Football

Borda Joseph – Rugby

Camilleri Terry  – Snooker

Caruana Jesmond – Weightlifting

Sultana Paul – Basketball

Zammit John – Cycling

Coach of the Year: (6)

Adamoli Angela – Basketball

Bugeja Jimmy – Shooting

Farrugia Anthony – Waterpolo

Holliday Daniel – Rugby

Izzo Karl – Waterpolo

Vella Silvio – Football

Male Youth of the Year: (6)

Cassar Kurt – Basketball

Galea Luke – Karate

Giordimaina Gary – Wrestling

Magro Matthew – Ten Pin Bowling

Plumpton Ben – Waterpolo

Sultana Kijan – Squash

Female Youth of the Year

Al Tumi Hannah – Basketball

Attard Gliveau Nicole – Athletics

Grillo Sana – Gymnastics

Pellicano Helene – Tennis

Shultheis Victoria – Sailing

Xuereb Sara  – Ten Pin Bowling

Team of the Year

Basketball: Women’s National Team

Football: Men’s National Team U/21

Snooker: Team: Alex Borg & Brian Cini

Waterpolo: Men’s National Team – ‘A’

Waterpolo: National Team Under 19

Apart from the categories which will be voted for by sports journalists during the night of the event, there will also be the People’s Choice Award whereby the winner will be selected by the general public via a televoting system. The public can vote online through this link https://www.sportmalta.org.mt/peoples-choice-awards-2017. The finalists in this category are:

People’s Choice Award

Tiziana Carannante – Bowling

William Chetcuti – Shooting

Keith Galea – Triathlon

Dennis Thornton – Regatta

John Zammit – Cycling

During the press conference, certificates were presented to all this year’s semi-finalists .The Sport Malta Awards- Għazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali dates back to 55 years ago when in 1960 Wilfred Pirotta won the Sportsman of the Year Award during the first edition. Over the years the event has increased in its popularity with the participation of more Associations and Federations, sports journalists and the general public.

This year’s edition hosted by Pamela Schembri will take place on Saturday 25^th of February 2017 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta and transmitted live on TVM 2 at 20:15

Refurbishment Works at The National Pool Complex are in their third and final phase. 

The Parliamentary Secretary Chris Agius, together with Sportmalta’s CEO Mr. Mark Cutajar and Chairman Dr. Luciano Bususttil visited the National Pool Complex and made a tour of the venue. There were also the directors of SportMalta and Dr. Joe Caruana Curran present during this visit.

The National Pool Complex has undergone a major overhaul over the past year. During all the phases SportMalta made sure that the pool remained open to the associations and clients thus limiting the effect on its services. As a matter of fact SportMalta reached an agreement with Neptunes to provide the latter’s premises during the final refurbishment phase of the pool deck and the pool itself so that clubs and clients could continue with their training.

The National Pool Complex is expected to open its doors in the coming weeks.