The European Week of Sport took place across our country with various events as part of the European Union’s #BeActive campaign, promoting an active and healthy lifestyle. It aimed to raise awareness about the importance of sports and active living for community health and well-being. #BeActive encouraged sports for everyone, regardless of age, with the goal of healthier and happier citizens. European Week of Sport 2023, built on last year’s success, featured events in 40 countries, diverse activities, contests, and millions of enthusiastic participants.

The focus this year was on involvement, inclusion, and innovation, reflecting contemporary societal changes. This year’s European Week of Sport focused on various themes, including schools, workplaces, fitness centres, sports organizations, and community engagement through local governments and outdoor activities. In this regard, SportMalta organized two main events: the #BeActive Night, was held on Saturday 23^rd September at 18:30 at the Cottonera Sports Complex, emphasized fitness as the primary focus. The event commenced with a walk from Kalkara, followed by a fitness challenge with over 300 registered athletes, fitness sessions for the public, and a water polo tournament in an Olympic-sized pool.

The Main National Event, was held on Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Sports Grounds, transformed the grounds into a sports village featuring more than 20 different sporting disciplines. It was a fun activity for all those who attended to watch and take part in a different sport. This event included a variety of disciplines, from athletics, skateboarding, basketball 3×3, badminton, gymnastics, netball, judo, rugby, volleyball, billiard, table tennis and much more. Special Olympics also organised various sports for their member athletes, while a football tournament was also organised throughout the day.

In collaboration with SportMalta, various sports clubs and organizations also organized their own events, encouraging more and more people to be active through sports.

This year, SportMalta partnered with several fitness centres, which opened their doors for free sessions on Saturday, September 30th, with the aim of encouraging regular exercise

Recognizing that workplaces, schools, and homes have become places where people spent a significant portion of their time, SportMalta seized the opportunity to organize activities in these environments and brainstormed ideas on how individuals could remain active in such settings. To this end, SportMalta hosted various team-building physical activities in workplaces and the SportMalta National Schools Sports Day on October 13th, where schools across the nation are invited to participate.

Over the years, SportMalta had also produced numerous video clips under the #BeActiveAtHome initiative, catering for those who preferred to exercise in the comfort of their homes.

For a comprehensive list of all events happening during the European Week of Sport of this year, one could visit the website at sportmalta.mt Everyone was invited to join in any of these events as an opportunity to kickstart or expand their physical activity journey.

SportMalta is promoting sport and physical activity throughout the year and from early ages through the #BeActive campaigns. The aim is to raise awareness within society regarding the importance of physical activity and participation in sports. The European Commission aims for the European Week of Sport to promote more action in favour of physical activity.

SportMalta extends its heartfelt gratitude to all participants who joined us in celebrating the European Week of Sport this year. Your enthusiasm and dedication to promoting physical activity and well-being have made this event a resounding success.

The next official activity for SportMalta is in October, the SportMalta National Schools Sports Day will be held in many schools.

SportMalta is actively promoting physical activity and sports participation by distributing merchandise for the European Week of Sport to local councils, sports organizations, and clubs. This initiative reflects SportMalta’s commitment to encouraging people to lead healthier and more active lifestyles. By providing these promotional materials, they aim to raise awareness and motivate communities to engage in sports and physical activities.

The distribution of merchandise not only fosters a sense of unity and involvement within local communities but also showcases the significance of collaboration between different stakeholders. Local councils, sports organizations, and clubs play pivotal roles in fostering a sports culture at the grassroots level. Through this distribution, SportMalta is extending its support to these entities, empowering them to organize events and initiatives that promote sports and physical well-being.

Ultimately, the goal is to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to embrace an active lifestyle, recognizing the numerous benefits it brings to both individuals and society as a whole. SportMalta’s efforts in distributing merchandise for the European Week of Sport contribute to a healthier and more active Malta.

So, gather your friends and family, and get ready to join in the festivities. Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of this inspiring movement towards a healthier and more active Europe!

Join the Movement and #Beactive!

Rose Marie Mercieca, Coordinator of the European Week of Sport within SportMalta, was delighted to announce the media coverage of the European Week of Sport for this year.

The European Week of Sport, held annually during the last week of September, is an initiative by the European Commission aimed at promoting physical activity through sports in all European Union member states. Recognizing the importance of combating sedentary lifestyles, the initiative emphasizes the need for regular and active living.

This year’s European Week of Sport focuses on various themes including schools, workplaces, fitness centers, sports organizations, and community engagement through local governments and outdoor activities. In this regard, SportMalta is organizing two flagship events: the BeActive Night, scheduled for tomorrow at 18:30 at the Cottonera Sports Complex, will emphasize fitness as the primary focus. The event will commence with a walk from Kalkara, followed by a fitness challenge with over 300 registered athletes, fitness sessions for the public, and a water polo tournament in an Olympic-sized pool. The main National Event, set for Sunday afternoon at the Marsa Sports Grounds, will transform the grounds into a sports village featuring more than 20 different sporting disciplines.

In collaboration with SportMalta, various sports clubs and organizations are also organizing their own events, encouraging more and more people to be active through sports.

This year, SportMalta is partnering with several fitness centers, opening their doors for free sessions on Saturday, September 30th, with the aim of encouraging regular exercise.

Recognizing that workplaces, schools, and homes have become places where people spend a significant portion of their time, SportMalta is seizing the opportunity to organize activities in these environments and brainstorming ideas on how individuals can remain active in such settings. To this end, SportMalta is hosting various team-building physical activities in workplaces and the SportMalta National Schools Sports Day on October 13th, where schools across the nation are invited to participate.

Over the years, SportMalta has also produced numerous video clips under the BeActiveAtHome initiative, catering to those who prefer to exercise in the comfort of their homes.

For a comprehensive list of all events happening during the European Week of Sport this year, please visit our website at sportmalta.mt. We invite everyone to join us in any of these events as an opportunity to kickstart or expand your physical activity journey.

The Permanent Secretary for Education, Mr. Matthew Vella, began by expressing his gratitude towards SportMalta for their dedicated efforts in promoting sports and ensuring that more people in Malta lead active and healthy lifestyles. He emphasized that SportMalta’s mission to raise awareness about the importance of sports and active living for community health and well-being is commendable.

Mr. Vella stressed that physical activity doesn’t necessarily mean engaging in competitive sports; it can also involve participating in activities available within local communities, as exemplified by the European Week of Sport organized by SportMalta.

Furthermore, he highlighted ongoing efforts to encourage physical activity among public sector employees in Valletta, with the aim of fostering greater activity levels and improved well-being.

Minister Hon Clifton Grima has expressed his heartfelt appreciation to all the dedicated employees of SportMalta for their exemplary efforts in promoting sports and physical activity.

In a recent statement, Minister Grima highlighted the crucial role of physical exercise in improving both mental and physical well-being. He emphasized that engaging in any form of physical activity greatly contributes to mental clarity and physical fitness.

Furthermore, Minister Grima emphasized the significance of the European Week of Sport, an annual event that is now a fixture on the calendar. SportMalta has been tirelessly working to convey a strong and vital message about the importance of sports and active living for community health and well-being.

Minister Grima concluded by reaffirming his gratitude to SportMalta’s workforce, acknowledging their relentless commitment to advancing sports and physical activity throughout the nation.

Depiro Summer School in collaboration with SportMalta as part of the
European Week of Sport and BeActive campaign has organized two sports
days on the 6 th and 7 th September in their schools in Mtarfa and Kirkop. A
total of 500 students had the opportunity to spend a whole day participating
in sports activities which focused on physical literacy skills namely agility,
balance, coordination and speed in a fun environment.

The program was split in various areas in the school, making maximization of
our infrastructural resources and use of community buildings such as Mtarfa
Local Council premises and parish building. They had the opportunity
participate in dance activities, teamwork activities and traditional games.
Popular sports activities where also included such as athletics, basketball,
volleyball, football and outdoors. All activities were tailor made and accessible
for all children in an inclusive environment.

A great opportunity for all kids was that they all had the chance to practice
the use of a skipping rope thanks to SportMalta. All the children were given a
skipping a rope so that they could keep doing physical activity at home with
their families.
Depiro Summer School is an extension of Depiro Sports Club educational
activities offered to all children in Summer and licensed by the Ministry for
Education, Sports, Youth, Research and Innovation.

• Take advantage of the open water and go for a swim. Swimming provides an excellent full-body workout and helps improve cardiovascular health
• Gather your friends for a game of beach volleyball. It’s a great way to work on your agility, coordination, and teamwork while having a blast

• The sandy shoreline offers a natural resistance for your legs. Go for a jog or a run along the beach to engage different muscles compared to running on a flat surface
• Find a peaceful spot and practice yoga on the beach. The sand provides an unstable surface, enhancing your balance and core strength as you flow through poses
• If you have access to a paddleboard, it’s a fantastic way to engage your core and improve your balance while enjoying the water
• Play a game of frisbee with friends. Running on the sand to catch or throw the frisbee adds an extra challenge to the game
• It’s not just for kids! Building sandcastles requires squatting, bending, and lifting, which can be a fun way to engage your muscles

• Use the beach as your outdoor gym. Perform bodyweight exercises like push-ups, squats, lunges, and burpees in the sand for added resistance
• If you’re at a beach with waves, consider giving surfing a try. It’s an exhilarating way to improve your balance and upper body strength
• Take a long walk along the shore to enjoy the scenery and collect seashells. Walking in the sand provides a low-impact workout for your legs
• Bring along a jump rope and enjoy a heart-pumping cardio session on the beach
• If the beach allows for it, take a beach cruiser bike for a spin along the shoreline. It’s a fun way to explore while getting your legs moving

Remember to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and take breaks when needed. Whether you’re into high-intensity activities or simply enjoying the beauty of the beach while staying active, there’s something for everyone to #BEACTIVE at the beach.

#BeActive, the European Union’s campaign that promotes an active and healthy lifestyle in Europe and beyond, is back in its 9th edition.  The week is for everyone, regardless of age, background, or fitness level. With a focus on grassroots initiatives, the aim is to inspire Europeans to #BeActive on a regular basis and create opportunities in the everyday lives of European citizens to exercise more.

For the last eight years, the European Week of Sport has helped to tackle the inactivity crisis by encouraging Europeans of all ages to embrace a healthy and active lifestyle, not just for the week but throughout the year.

SportMalta is determined to keep on promoting and developing sport and physical activity for a healthy, inclusive, and successful Malta.  For such reason, SportMalta will be organizing different activities one of which will be the European Week of Sport Main Event on Sunday the 24^th of September at 15:00hrs at the Marsa Sports Grounds.  The aim is to bring together various national associations to create a sports village with fun activities that appeal to all citizens and to help improve their habits.  Activities will include a vast range of different sport disciplines covering the whole area of the Marsa Sports Grounds.

Everyone is invited to come and get a taste of the different disciplines that shall be promoted. It will be a good opportunity to start a sport and the right place to contact the providers themselves. For further queries one can contact us on eventssm@sportmalta.org.mt

The European Week of Sport will be celebrated between the 23^rd and 30^th September 2023. SportMalta, the National Coordinator of this initiative, is inviting all government, parastatal, and private workplaces to join this celebration and organize healthy lifestyle activities.

The workplace can use this event as a team building activity.

Being active is beneficial to reduce serious health issues, increased by a sedentary lifestyle. Simple moving activities on the place of work will lead to reduction of stress and enhance productivity and cohesion.

Some activities that can be implemented at the workplace are:

• changing the way how to communicate, such as instead of sending an email, walking to your colleague’s desk
• choosing the stairs instead of lift
• working while standing up
• going for short walks during break
• parking away from entrance
• walking around when on the phone

SportMalta is inviting all interested parties that would like to embark on such an initiative to contact us on eventssm@sportmalta.org.mt

Join the Movement and #BeActive

The role of sports for the holistic formation of the child has been widely documented. It has been scientifically affirmed that sport is an important agent for children to lead a healthy lifestyle.

SportMalta’s mission of promoting and developing sport for a healthy, inclusive, and successful Malta, makes it the perfect fit for the role of the National Coordinating Body of the European Week of Sport. SportMalta through its #BeActive campaign supports the research that sport makes students healthier and better learners in the classroom.

The SportMalta National Sports Day is a yearly event organised to celebrate life and promote a healthy lifestyle. It is an important day in the school calendar as it can ignite a child’s passion towards a healthy lifelong approach.

The benefits for the educational institutions in joining the SportMalta National Sports Day are:

• Create fun and enjoyment through physical activity for young people.
• Promote health and wellbeing for lifelong learning.
• Encourage social inclusion and develop social competence amongst students.

All educational institutions are welcome to participate in the yearly SportMalta National Sports Day event that is being held on Friday, 13^th October 2023. Any further queries can be sent to eventssm@sportmalta.org.mt

Minister for Sport Clifton Grima accompanied by SportMalta CEO Mark Cutajar and representatives of SportMalta employees this morning paid a visit to the Oncology Ward at Sir Anthony Mamo Hospital to show their appreciation and dedication to Puttinu Cares Foundation.  They were greeted by young patients, parents and staff at the Rainbow Ward and Puttinu Cares Foundation top officials Rennie Zerafa and Angele Cuschieri.

Minister Grima praised the work of Puttinu Cares Foundation.  He added that Malta is a small state but with a big heart and the work that Puttinu Cares is doing taking into account its complexities is remarkable.  SportMalta CEO Mark Cutajar said that the entity always worked hard to support charity institutions.  He said that for years the entity hosted the football marathon which was a flagship event of Puttinu Cares. He added that SportMalta’s door is always open to promote sports and physical activity helping financially such projects.

SportMalta presented to Puttinu Cares the sum of €9,500 which were collected by the Entity in a number of sport initiatives.  The money will support Puttinu Cares in their projects.

Less than 70 days remain until the start of the XIX Games of the Small States of Europe Opening Ceremony in Valletta.  As preparations continue to progress, the Maltese Olympic Committee hosted a meeting for Chefs de Mission and technical delegates representing the nine GSSE Countries for meetings in Malta.

Over twenty-five delegates participated in meetings and presentations relating to events, logistics, medical services, transportation, opening and closing ceremonies as well various venue site visits. The first visit was to athlete accommodation, which is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and will be fully operational a few weeks before the arrival of the first athletes.    Delegates were also given a tour of facilities which will host competitions during the Games.

“Undoubtedly the international climate has offered the organisation of these Games several challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the current political climate, we as the Organisation Committee, have no control over.  Nonetheless, we have garnered the support of various stakeholders, and sponsors which contribution will help us honour our commitment to deliver “commented Mark Cutajar, Chairman of the Local Organisation Committee.  “These Games have their own challenges but must move at par with the challenges that sport is facing around the Globe.”

In the evening, the Maltese Olympic Committee hosted the launch of Team Malta uniforms, in the presence of various Games stakeholders, Government representative, athletes, Federation representatives from the ten sporting disciplines taking place in Malta and other guests.  The brand-new Team Malta uniform was modelled by some of Malta’s most recognised athletes, and who will most likely be part of Team Malta during the Games.

Lacey Aquilina, Claire Azzopardi, Steve Camilleri, Francesca Catania, Josephine Diaby, Alex Felice Pace, Beppe Grillo, Sandek Khalaf, Michela Mifsud, Janet Richard, Julian Rizzo, Ashley van Vilet Vella and Nathan Xuereb modelled the uniforms which combine the red and white elements which capture the Maltese flavour, energy and passion – all elements associated with sport.  The uniform was designed keeping in mind the warm weather conditions during the Games, meaning that they will provide protection against the ultraviolet radiation as well as breathability.  The uniform will consist of tracksuits, t-shirts, polo shirts, caps and backpacks.

“Wearing Team Malta’s uniform is an honour many athletes are vying to have and who will treasure the opportunity to wear this uniform. Their focus towards these Games has been commendable and in the runup to the events, they have been producing consistently encouraging results” remarked Julian Pace Bonello, President, Maltese Olympic Committee.

Minister for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation Dr Clifton Grima praised the work done to host this prestigious event in Malta. “As a team, Ministry, SportMalta and the MOC, we have been giving our all, together with the Sport Associations and the athletes to prepare for these games. We are looking forward to support and applaud our athletes as they keep the Maltese flag flying”.

The XIX Games of the Small States of Europe are being supported by SportMalta, NDSF, Welbee’s Supermarket, National Lottery, MITA, General Soft Drinks, Visit Malta, European Olympic Committees, Go, Enemed, BOV and The Concept Stadium.

More information on the XIX Games of the Small States of Europe can be found on https://gssemalta2023.mt