In view of the theme of volunteering as one of the principle topics of the Maltese Presidency, SportMalta has linked it with sports through the launch of a new course for volunteers in sports that will lead to formal certification for all those attending.

The course has been conceived by SportMalta together with MCAST. All those who will successfully complete the course will be awarded with an MCAST Level 2 Award in Sport Volunteering.

This course will mark the beginning of a series of events connected to the Presidency and it shall be presented to the European Union as a good practice.

This course is being offered to all SportMalta employees whereas all sport associations have been invited to attend. The aim of this course is to equip its employees and all those working in the sport industry with competences and continuous development in specific fields related to sports.

All participants will receive a certificate that shows their aptitude in this field and the proficiency achieved which will make them eligible to work with sport entities during both local and international competitions.

The course is divided in three modules and will terminate in March.  A register containing all the names of successful participants will be developed at the end of the course and will serve as a reference to sports entities wishing to engage skilled and trained staff.

Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation Youth and Sport said that this project is going to be presented as a good practice during the Maltese Presidency. He explained that many of those involved in sports usually work on a voluntary basis and now through this course they have been given the opportunity to get formal recognition through this certification of the work they do. Moreover this project will contribute to maximize on human resources by making the best use of this potential. He maintained that this course will be beneficial to all associations as it places the participants on an advanced level.

Mark Cutajar, CEO of SportMalta stated that this is yet another confirmation of how SportMalta continuously creates opportunities for its employees to grow through learning and training. This course follows another course that was offered to SportMalta’s employees who on successful completion were certified with an MCAST Level 5 Award in Public Service Sport Administration. He reminded that this course, financed by the European Social Fund was offered together with the European Observatoire of Sport and Employment (EOSE) and in collaboration with MCAST. As a matter of fact he thanked MCAST for accepting to work together for a second time on such an initiative so as to offer together a course of the highest level to all those attending. He said that he is convinced that this project will be welcomed by the European Union and stated that the course will be repeated in the years to come so that a record of qualified people in the field of sports is created.

Mr Stephen Cachia, MCAST Principal and CEO stated that he is glad that MCAST is participating in this new project together with SportMalta.  “This course is a valuable tool which will provide sports volunteers with the skills, competences, continuous development in specific fields related to sports. It will also help the sport clubs and organisations to get the most out of their volunteers and also formally recognizes their contribution.”

SportMalta announced new assistance schemes whilst retaining and strengthening the existent ones. This was pronounced during a press conference held at Global College Malta at Smart City.

The new Sports Leave Scheme for the private sector was launched whereby employees working with private companies can now apply for special leave in order to participate in international competitions. This scheme has already yielded succesful results for employees in the public sector and hence the need to expand it further to include all employees has now been addressed by SportMalta.

In the meantime due to the current, strong and stable financial position of SportMalta, all present schemes have been reconfirmed. Hard work and dedication by both management and workers alike have produced this revenue and such results have led to a broader budget assigned to the entity by The Ministry of Finance, trusting SportMalta to administer such funds in the most professional, transparent and honest approach.

Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation , Youth and Sport explained that the new sports leave scheme for the private sector was fulfiled following  suggestions presented during the bi annual meetings Gvern Li Jisma that proves that this governement listens and acts on the people’s proposals. He said that the function of  the regulatory section was immediately addressed at the beginning of the legislature so that today, following lengthy and intensive discussions it is now semi-autonomous.

He explained that the government together with SportMalta is currently working together with the private sector on the revamping of the Youth Development Scheme so that it is given its due importance with an increase in funds allocated to this scheme. This is evidence of the government’s faith in our youths and that it is taking definite action to invest in this sector.

Luciano Busuttil, Chairman of SportMalta said that there is an urgent need to start making use of all facilities availble and not just rely on human resources. He stressed that vacant places should be transformed into sports facilities so that they start serving our Maltese athletes. Furthermore he remarked on the importance of collaboration between SportMalta and various entities amongst them the University of Malta by which the sporting community can gain from such cooperation.

Mark Cutajar, CEO of SportMalta stated that through these schemes the entity is investing above 2 million euros wherein he believes that such support will contribute to develop professional sports. However he said that it is his wish to see that through these schemes the associations work harder to attract more people towards their particular sports in order to contribute to a healthier and physically active community. He maintained that this is SportMalta’s main mission; that is to move the nation through any possible means. He confirmed that SportMalta will persist in its duty to sustain its atheletes in order for them to be prepared in the best way possible and as a matter of fact he announced that a brand new scheme addressed towards athletes under 18 years will be launched soon in collaboration with a major private company. Details regarding this scheme will be revealed  in the coming weeks.

During the activity, Dr. Karen Zammit Southerwood explained in detail the schemes available. She commented on the importance of good governance in the management of sport organisations with special emphasis on the administration of public funds attained through these schemes. There are various schemes that are available to all levels of sports, amongst them the Capital Expenditure Scheme and the Flexi Training Scheme. Further details are available at www.sportmalta.org.mt.

Applications will be received up to the 19th of December 2016.

SportMalta encourages sports organisations to apply for these schemes so as to enhance professional development and equip our athletes with competences to compete at an international level.

Intlaħaq ftehim bejn l-Assoċjazzjoni Sportiva Hibernians u l-Malta Futsal Association, liema ftehim intlaħaq bl-intervent tas-Segretarju Parlamentari għar-Riċerka, Innovazzjoni, Żgħażagħ u Sport Chris Agius.

Il-kuntratt ta’ tliet snin li kellha l-Assoċjazzjoni Maltija tal-Futsal mal-istess Assoċjazzjoni Sportiva Hibernians skada fi tmiem l-aħħar staġun u ż-żewġ partijiet ma kienux qablu sabiex l-istess kuntratt jerġa’ jiġġedded.  Kien għalhekk li l-Assoċjazzjoni Maltija tal-Futsal, anke bl-għajnuna tas-Segretarju Parlamentari Agius u SportMalta, pruvaw isibu faċilità alternattiva, liema tentattivi ma nltaħqux, bl-unika alternattiva jibqa’ l-padiljun tal-Hibernians f’Kordin.

B’rieda tajba mill-partijiet kollha ġie mfassal kuntratt ġdid, bi klawżoli ġodda, u ntlaħaq ftehim bl-istess timijiet ta’ Hibernians ikollhom ifittxu faċilitajiet alternattivi għat-taħriġ tal-basketball.  Il-kuntratt attwali jorbot liż-żewġ partijiet għal tliet snin.  Tajjeb wieħed isemmi li l-logħob tal-istaġun 2016/17 ser jkun fil-padiljun ta’ Kordin u fil-Kulleġġ De La Salle fil-Birgu imbagħad il-kampjonat 2017/18 ser jintlagħab kollu fil-Padiljun Sportiv ta’ Kordin.

L-ewwel impenn għal dan l-istaġun tal-Assoċjazzjoni Maltija tal-Futsal tkun is-Super Cup bejn Valletta u Luxol li tintlagħab fil-11 ta’ Novembru.

Intant il-Gvern huwa impenjat sabiex fiż-żmien li ġej anke l-Futsal ikollu l-faċilità tiegħu.

Fun Run 2016 launched at Kirkop Sports Complex. The Fun Run will be organised of Sunday 6th Nobember 2016.

In line with SportMalta’s new mission to move the nation through physical activity, our entity has embarked on a new project which is the production of a TV series on TVM2 for the coming 9 months.

Through this series we will be reaching out to combat obesity by educating people of all ages to be physically active. The programme will also serve as a platform to provide information about its extensive remit, events and also giving a voice to local federations and associations.

The programme will commence next week on Wednesday 19^th October 2016 at 19:00 with a repeat on Saturday at 11:00.

Below you can watch the opening of the programme, hope you like it.

Fil-Jiem li ghaddew sar il-ftuh ufficjali tas-sit il-gdid tal-Hal Far Model Flying Association mis-Segretarju Parlamentari ghar-Ricerka, Innovazzjoni, Zghazagh u Sport Chris Agius fil-prezenza tal-President tal-klabb Arthur Napier fost l-ohrajn.

Is-Segretarju Parlamentari Chris Agius waqt l-indirizz tieghu spjega l-intoppi li ntaqghu maghhom fil-mixja sabiex l-assocjazzjoni tinghata dan is-sit minn fejn tista’ topera.  Filfatt l-akbar ostaklu kien il-fatt li l-art tinsab f’zona industrijali.  Huwa qal li b’rieda tajba minn diversi partijiet intlahaq ftehim b’sodisfazzjoni kbir ghan-numru ta’ dilettanti fi hdan il-klabb. Semma ukoll li fl-isport ma ghandix tidhol il-politika u li l-gurnata tallum tixhed ezattament dan.   Huwa kompla jghid li qieghed jipprova jghin sabiex jintlahqu t-talbiet kbar li qed isiru minn diversi assocjazzjonijiet, ghalkemm dan ma jkunx dejjem possibli.

Il-President tal-assocjazzjoni Arthur Napier semma l-importanza tal-MoU li kien iffirmat ma’ SportMalta.  Napier esprima s-sodisfazzjon li l-klabb wasal s’hawn u rringrazzja b’mod partikolari lill-perit li ghen lill-assocjazzjoni.  Intant Pierre Bonello, segretarju tal-assocjazzjoni fisser din il-gurnata bhala wahda storika li biha l-assocjazzjoni regghet inghaqdet u ssahhet.  Huwa sostna li kien importanti li l-istakeholders bhall-Malta Enterprise kienu involuti sa mill-bidu nett u llkoll gibdu habel wiehed.

Indirizzaw lil dawk prezenti wkoll George Borg Marks, id-direttu tal-Avjazzjoni Civili,  Dr Lucianno Busuttil chairman ta SportMalta u David Agius il-kelliem tal-oppozizzjoni ghall-isport.

Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport Chris Agius officially inaugurates new premises for the Ħal Far Model Flying Association [9-10-16]

A whole month of sport activities and initiatives to promote the message of a healthy lifestyle and #BeActive came down to this. Watch the highlight video of this year’s European Week of Sport in Malta and be inspired to #BeActive

The European School Sport Day organised by SportMalta was held on 30 September 2016 with the participation of 65 state, church and independent schools during which around 20, 000 children took part in various sports and physical activities in a number of venues in schools, public squares and gardens and sport facilities.

The event was indeed a huge success as children were physically active for 120 minutes. European School Sport Day is part of NowWeMOVE campaign, developed by a consortium of European umbrella organizations and aims to promote health and well-being for lifelong learning and to develop social competences among students through fun and meaningful experience.

The children had the opportunity to meet the sports ambassadors of the #BeActive Campaign and athletes in the Flexi Training Scheme. The event was attended by the Hon Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Innovation, Research, Youth and Sport.

More than 20 000 young Maltese will participate in the European initiative

Malta encourages better physical activity and health to everyone by joining the European School Sport Day. The initiative will be held on 30 September 2016 and will invite 150 schools to participate in different kind of traditional games and movement. The local organiser of the initiative Sport Malta has invited the Minister of Education and Employment Mr. Evarist Bartolo and the Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport Mr. Chris Agius to support the initiative and to join many high-profile athletes and EWOS Ambassadors at the flagship event at Cottonera Sports Complex.

European School Sport Day is part of NowWeMOVE campaign, developed by a consortium of European umbrella organizations and aims to promote health and wellbeing for lifelong learning and to develop social competences among students through fun and meaningful experience. In Malta the initiative is supported by Kristal Water represented by GSD Marketing Ltd.

Chris Agius, Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sports said that children should be exposed to various activities that contribute to the growth of their agility, balance and coordination that form the basis of all sports disciplines. Moreover sports activities should be made attractive to children so that they do not view sports as an obligation but rather as an endeavour that they enjoy. He stated that his wish is to see that such activities continue to entice children towards sport and cultivate a passion towards an active lifestyle. He sustained that this is indeed a challenge to organise such an activity during the first scholastic week but he believes that such an initiative gives its due importance to physical education.

“We believe that the schools should be the main focal point where the true value of grassroots sport is being delivered and that is why we have invited all schools not only to join the event, but to participate in the dynamic sport programme, organized by us for the children during entire day”, Mark Cutajar, Chief Executive of Sport Malta said.

Kevin Azzopardi, Education Officer for Physical Education stated that this is a unique occasion to unite state, private and church schools to promote together physical education as an enjoyable activity and not just to obtain competitive results in this field. The Ministry of Education has invested in sport facilities so that students have accessibility to sports and it is planned that more are to be developed in the coming months.

Sport Malta expects more than 20 000 young people to join the event using their localities – squares, gardens, alley ways, waterfronts, to play and be active. In order to involve as more participants as possible, the organizers of European Schools Sport Day has provided teachers and students with fresh ideas to plan and prepare their own school sport program outside classes. This useful toolkit is available on the official website of the initiative http://essd.nowwemove.com/.

About the NowWeMOVE campaign

NowWeMOVE is Europe’s largest bottom-up campaign of its kind promoting sport and physical activity. Launched in 2012 by ISCA, it brings stakeholders in the sport for all from a variety of sectors together to tackle the physical inactivity epidemic across Europe. The cross-sector vision of the campaign is to get “100 million more Europeans active in sport and physical activity by 2020.” The overall objectives of the campaign are to raise awareness of the benefits of sport and physical activity among European citizens; promote opportunities to be active in sport and physical activity; and enable sustainable and innovative capacity building for providers of physical activity initiatives through open-source solutions and advocacy.

For more information about NowWeMOVE campaign please visit http://nowwemove.com/

A major revamp at the Cottonera Sports Complex took place and was presented to the public on Friday 23^rd September during an event held at the premises. SportMalta employees have been labouring relentlessly over the past months carrying out extensive embellishment works resulting in an overall appearance that reflects the new branding of the entity. However the most striking innovation is the new flooring of the main hall, an investment of 120,000 euros. The flooring is of the highest quality thus placing SportMalta on the same level as other oversees venues when competing for the hosting of international events and competitions.

Such an investment is the result of the continuous effort by SportMalta to improve the relationship with the local sport associations by providing them with the best facilities for them to practice and attract people towards their individual sport. This collaboration keeps growing as SportMalta is delivering one project after the other. As a result SportMalta is benefitting from enhanced confidence in its operations as it is being present for the associations so as together they offer the best service possible to the Maltese population.

During the event to celebrate the upgrading of the complex the public were entertained by over 400 SportMalta dance students during a presentation of the show Dance Project. The performanace marked the closing of the Be Active campaign and forms one of the seven main activities that were very successful during the European Week of Sports.

Mark Cutajar, Chief Executive of SportMalta thanked all the employees who contributed to make this dream a reality. He expressed his satisfaction at the increasing number of participatants in the SportMalta summer and winter programmes claiming that this is testimony of the fact that the entity’s message to bring people closer to physical activity is coming across. He encouraged people to apply for the Winter programme now that applications are out so as to avoid disspointment since once more it is being anticipated that the numbers will be again of phenomenal proportions. He concluded by stating that he is proud that SportMalta has not only managed to change its material outlook but also its mentality to be the government’s supreme authority to meet its new mission statement to move a nation through the promotion and development of sport for a healthy, inclusive and succesful Malta.

Luciano Busuttil,  Chairman of SportMalta declared that this investment reflects the entity’s policy to continously support sports associations,  providing them with the necessary backing to expand their sport and ensure that they will find backing from the goverment’s sport entity.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Research, Innovation, Youth and Sport, Chris Agius said that this investment is just a part of the upgrading of the Cottonera Complex in the southern part of our country. He confirmed that there are already all the applications in place with The Planning Authority for the building of an indoor pool. Works are envisaged to commence in the beginning of next year. He also mentioned the waterpolo pitch in Birzebbuga that will be completed in a few weeks, the current study being carried out for a new pitch in M’skala and the possibility of another indoor pool in Hal Kirkop.