Ghajnsielem Local Council marked this year’s European Week of Sport with a Traditional Sports Games evening, held as part of the Europe-wide #BeActive campaign encouraging people of all ages and backgrounds to take part in physical activity. The event drew a strong turnout from the local community, with over 120 participants taking part across the evening.
The European Week of Sport is an annual initiative promoted by the European Commission, aimed at encouraging participation in sport and physical activity regardless of age, background or fitness level. Local councils across Malta and Gozo take part in the campaign each year through community-based events, and Ghajnsielem’s contribution this year took the form of a traditional games evening designed to be accessible to families and residents of all ages.
A Well-Attended Evening of Traditional Games
The Traditional Sports Games event brought together residents for an evening centred on games with local and generational roots, offering a lighter, family-oriented alternative to more structured sporting formats. Organisers described the turnout and atmosphere as a success, with participants of different ages taking part alongside one another throughout the evening.
Welcoming Young Guests from Ukraine
Among those taking part in the evening was a group of ten children from Ukraine, currently living in areas near the border with Russia, who have lost their parents as a result of the war. As a gesture of welcome, the group was presented with SportMalta backpacks containing additional merchandise, a small token intended to mark their participation in the event alongside the local community.
Community Spirit at the Heart of the Campaign
Events of this kind reflect the way the #BeActive campaign is carried forward at a local level, with councils across Malta and Gozo using the European Week of Sport as an opportunity to bring residents together through informal, inclusive activity. Ghajnsielem’s Traditional Sports Games evening added a further, more personal dimension to that spirit of inclusion, with the presence and welcome extended to the visiting children from Ukraine standing out as a particular highlight of the evening.
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