The winners of the SportMalta Awards Għażliet Sportivi Nazzjonali were announced on Saturday evening during a live transmission aired on TSN1 as well as several facebook pages.
The 61st edition was a unique one due to the current Covid-19 pandemic situation in that it was not one in which finalists and guests could interact socially. Instead a virtual ceremony was held within the guidelines of the legal notice issued recently by the Malta Health Authorities.
Guest speakers during this transmission included Hon. Clifton Grima Parliamentary Secretary responsible from Sport, Recreation and Voluntary Organisations, Dr Luciano Busuttil Chairman SportMalta, CEO SportMalta Mark Cutajar and Sandro Micallef President of the Malta Sports Journalists Association.
Once again this annual awards ceremony was a joint collaboration between the Malta Sports Journalists Association and SportMalta with the backing of the Government Sport Secretariat.
During the live show hosted by Lorraine Cunningham and Chris Cauchi a total of 11 honours were announced seven of which were a result of the jury vote. The other awards were one due to a popular vote by the public, one the choice of the Executive Committee of the Malta Sports Journalists Association and the other two were given out upon a nomination by Special Olympics.
The honours were won as follows:
Sportsman of the Year – DEJAN GRECH (Eight Ball Pool)
Sportswoman of the Year – HALEY BUGEJA (Football)
Male Sports Youth of the Year – RICHARD SCHULTHEIS (Sailing)
Female Sports Youth of the Year – TENISHIA THORNTON (Weightlifting)
Sports Team of the Year – MALTA NATIONAL FEMALE FOOTBALL TEAM (Football)
Sports Coach of the Year – DEVIS MANGIA (National Men Football Team Coach)
Sports Official of the Year – JOSEPH MUSCAT (General Secretary Malta Basketball Association)
International Sports Event of the Year – EIGHT BALL POOL EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
People’s Choice Award – MARK MARLOW (President Malta Employees Sport Association)
Special Olympics Male Athlete Award – MARK SERGE (Ten Pin Bowling)
Special Olympics Female Athlete Award – KLARA ZAMMIT (Open Water Swimming)
