SportMalta Chairman Matthew Pisani says the island’s sporting direction is built around an inclusive, “holistic” ecosystem that reaches from grassroots participation to elite performance. In a recent interview with SiGMA News, he pointed to growing demand for physical activity, the need for continued investment in facilities and programmes, and Malta’s advantage as a compact, well-connected destination that can deliver international competitions and long-term value through sports tourism and partnerships.
“A holistic system and inclusive environment”
Asked what kind of sporting ecosystem Malta is trying to build, Pisani keeps coming back to one guiding idea: access.
“We’ve built a holistic system and inclusive environment where everyone can participate. Everyone can compete, we are not leaving anyone behind,” he says.
That means designing programmes with broad participation in mind. “We try as much as possible to cater to or create our programmes so that they are available for everyone and inclusive,” Pisani explains.
But he also makes the case that inclusion has to be supported by resources. “I think there should be more investment,” he says, adding that feedback from the public is clear: “People are reacting very well, and they are participating a lot.”
With participation rising, Pisani argues the next steps must keep pace. “We need to keep on investing in programmes, in facilities,” he says, linking it to a shift in attitudes locally: “The Maltese population is becoming aware of the importance of physical activity.”
For SportMalta, that focus sits alongside elite sport. “One of the main pillars for Sport Malta, apart from sport, which we cater for elite sport as well, is physical activity for everyone,” he told SiGMA News. And when it comes to what needs extra attention, his answer is direct: “Facilities.”
Putting Malta on the international map
On Malta’s global position, Pisani points first to geography and practicality. “Malta is well positioned in the Mediterranean,” he says, and he believes the country’s compact size is an advantage: “Because Malta is compact, our facilities and complexes are always nearby.”
That proximity, he says, helps Malta attract international activity, including high-profile aquatics events. He cites the European Water Polo Championships, which “will be organised in June,” and adds that “earlier in April, there will be the world championships of water polo as well, of both men and women.”
Beyond the calendar, he stresses delivery. “Given that we have our organisation team who deliver very good results, people are talking,” he says. The outcome, in his view, is a stronger reputation abroad: “They are now recognising Malta as one of the main countries in the EU where you can hold and organise European championships of the highest levels.”
The people behind the athletes, and the partnerships ahead
Pisani is keen to widen the spotlight beyond athletes. “We always talk about athletes…but we try as well to focus on the administrators, the coaches,” he says, describing investment in “capacity building” so staff can “keep on offering the best service.”
He also sees partnerships as essential to staying relevant. “If you do not invest in new niches, you’ll become slow,” he warns. SportMalta, he says, is looking outward: “We try to explore new niches… and we hold a lot of discussions with both national and international stakeholders.”
As the gaming sector grows, he believes links with sport can deepen too: “I believe that one day we will see more investment vis-a-vis Sport Malta and the gaming community as well.”
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