SportMalta and BOV Launch Youth Development Scheme 2018

The second edition of the Youth Development Scheme by SportMalta in collaboration with Bank of Valletta was launched during a press conference held at BOV’s Head Office in Santa Venera.

The Youth Development Scheme targets individual athletes in all sporting disciplines under the age of 18 and assists them in furthering their sporting career by participating at an international level beyond our shores.

The event was addressed by Anthony Scicluna, Chief Officer at Bank of Valletta, Dr Luciano Busuttil and Mark Cutajar, Chairman and CEO at SportMalta respectively and Parliamentary Secretary for Sports Dr Clifton Grima.

‘Bank of Valletta is synonymous with sports in Malta, supporting the major sports organization on the island’, said Mr Scicluna. ‘However we have always felt that the youth sector needs more support, and the Youth Development Scheme, provides us with an opportunity to support Malta’s budding young athletes who will be the champions of the near future.’

‘The Scheme is an opportunity for Malta’s young Athletes to gain experience in international competitions and an investment in our country’s sportive future,’ said Dr Busuttil. ‘This investment in our minor sector will help them take the leap to the next level and gain the necessary experience in international competitions.’

‘The financial burden associated with competing in international events is very hard to be sustained by the athletes themselves,’ continued Dr Busuttil. ‘The collaboration between SportMalta and Bank of Valletta will ensure that athletes with good potential are given the gain the experience of training and competing abroad, a necessary stepping stone in their sporting career.’

‘The scheme, a 50-50 partnership between SportMalta and BOV will assist twenty athletes, chosen according to their personal capacity and performance in their Sport,’ said Mr Cutajar. ‘Flight expenses, event participation fees and accommodation are all being covered by this scheme.’

‘National Sports Organisations of the particular disciplines shall be asked by SportMalta for recommendations in relation to the Athlete’s performance and potential, in order to ensure that the National Sports Organisations’ views are taken into consideration’ concluded Mr Cutajar.

‘I take this opportunity to thank SportMalta and Bank of Valletta for investing in the future of our athletes with a scheme that will assist us in preparing as many athletes as possible for the Games for the Small States of Europe 2023 that will be hosted in Malta’ said the Hon Dr Clifton Grima. ‘This second edition of the scheme will continue to build up the numbers and level of our promising athletes in a bid to obtain a large number of medals at these games.

Further information about the scheme can be accessed via in the Assistance Scheme Page.