Chris Camilleri forms part of a very rare brand of athletes. He is not your average sprinter or runner. Chris Camilleri races canoes... and simply loves his sport.
Chris started canoeing at the tender age of 12 and his canoe has taken him on a voyage he will never forget. He has taken part in competitions throughout the continent, and has set many new countries and events in his sights. A whole list of fantastic sporting achievements makes Chris one of Malta’s top athletes, and carrying a large smile with him wherever he goes, nothing can possibly dampen his sky high spirits. He uses his enthusiasm and easy going character to his advantage and admits that he “overcomes nerves by passing jokes to try to release tension.”
Chris also takes advantage of another major aspect of his lift. Relaxing is key for any athlete; however Chris has the edge over others here as “water relaxes him”. Mental preparation is vital, and this includes keeping composure and being relaxed always helps.
His enthusiasm for life and sport can be seen wherever he goes, and he doesn’t race because he has to, but simply because he wants to. The speed and adrenaline are simply too attractive for Chris, and this helps him push himself further and further.
Despite all his success Chris opts to keep his feet grounded, and never forgets his routes. He labels his old friend Gerald Degaetano as his main inspiration and explains that “Gerald took me under his wing and started to teach me the traits in the sport – technique exercises, strength exercises and also encouragement to try out my ability on the slick Olympic racing boats.”
Boasting an impressive official current world ranking of 55 out of 99 nations, Chris’ impressive talents are being recognised worldwide, however, this is not enough for the action-junkie. Chris simply wants more, and his recent recruiting by the world renowned Hungarian kayaking champion Tibor Virag has added a fresh competitive edge to his game, and this could only have positive connotations for the athlete. New targets have been set, and this will take Chris on even more exciting adventures, to heights he could only have once dreamed of.
Virag’s influence has rubbed off on Chris, and his Hungarian routes have influenced Chris in many ways. Despite being ‘very proud’ to represent Malta, he acknowledges the fact that racing abroad is vital for any athlete as this gives him “the chance to spar and compete against high level athletes”.
This does not only benefit the athlete, but is also benefits Malta. As Malta spreads its sphere of influence, many foreign athletes often train here in Malta during the winter months and “this is a great alternative to boost our performance without having to go abroad.”
Malta as a sporting nation is constantly improving, and opportunities like these do not only serve to offer experience, but also boost Malta’s sporting image around the continent.
Chris is an extremely motivated personality and with this on his side, and his great friend and coach Tibi, he has been able to set loft targets for the following season. He set his sights on the World Championships in Canada and the Mediterranean Games of Pescara, and this is an experience he is simply relishing.
Again keeping grounded, Chris pays tribute to the “continuous support of the Malta Olympic Committee, the Malta Canoe Federation, my coach and my loved ones.” With them by his side he adds that “[he’s] sure I’ll keep the high motivation needed to pull through!”
Another important aspect to his sporting career was the setting up of the Malta Canoe Racing Club as this gives him “everything in one spot – kayak, gym, kayak machine. This saves me a lot of time and increases efficiency in my training routines.” The efforts of all the federations are really put on show by Chris, and this is a massive tribute to the Maltese Islands.
Chris’ personal Holy Grail is London 2012 and he concedes that this is his number one aim in sport. With his skill, enthusiasm and passion, sending Chris up to London would definitely be the right choice, and his constant focus, motivation and dedication will ensure he gets the sufficient training needed to make the cut for London 1012.
Chris’ enthusiasm can be easily summed up by one sentence: “you’re only young once” and this is the message he would give anyone. He encourages all kids to “Get out there and start practicing a sport as it will give you discipline and enriches your life skills.”
Kids should be encouraged to practice any sport by the words from the master himself. Malta can be very proud of producing yet another sensational talent and the work done by the Malta Olympic Committee certain shines through Chris Camilleri.
English PM Brown hails 2012 London Olympics for creating jobs
STEPHEN WILSON
AP sports writer
Halfway through London’s preparations for the 2012 Olympics, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the project is ahead of schedule and creating thousands of jobs in the face of the global economic downturn.
Brown toured the Olympic Park last Friday to mark the halfway point from the day London was awarded the games in Singapore in July 2005 to the opening ceremony in 2012 – 1,287 days away.
Although the budget for the project has soared and organisers are struggling to secure private funding, Brown said preparations are ahead of schedule. He noted that about 3,000 people are currently working on the site, with the number to increase to 11,000 next year and reach a total of 30,000 by 2012.
“On top of all that, there will be 50,000 jobs permanently created as a result of all the facilities that the Olympic site will make possible for the future,” Brown said. “The number of jobs is moving up very, very quickly and it is a good sign in what is a difficult global economic situation.
“We’re talking about one of the biggest job creating projects that we’ve seen.”
Among those currently working on the Olympic site are thousands of bricklayers, wood workers, electricians, security guards, engineers and plumbers.
Construction started last summer on the Olympic stadium, aquatics center and athletes’ village.
Electricity pylons have been removed and contamination cleared from the 2.5-square-kilometre site, a previously run-down area of east London that is being turned into one of the biggest urban parks in Europe.
The main bowl of the 80,000-capacity stadium is complete, and the arena will eventually have 25,000 permanent seats and 55,000 temporary seats. The stadium will be scaled down to a permanent 25,000-capacity facility after the Olympics.
“I have to keep on reminding myself that when I was standing here three years ago, this was a desolate area,” London organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe said. “It is exactly three-and-a-half years to the opening ceremony in London in July 2012. At this halfway point, we are exactly where we want to be – and in some cases, ahead of schedule.
“This is a large and complex project and we don’t have a day to waste, but I’m delighted with the progress the teams have made to date.”
The overall budget has more than doubled to e10.3 million, which includes construction costs and long-term regeneration of the area.
The organising committee’s operational budget is e2.2 billion, raised through television rights, sponsorship contracts, tickets sales and licensing.
London organisers have signed up 11 domestic sponsors and secured over 75 per cent of their overall sponsorship revenue target of e669 million.
However, one of those sponsors – Toronto-based Nortel - filed for bankruptcy protection on Wednesday, raising questions about the status of its e44 million deal.
“Even without Nortel, the London organising committee have already made many partnerships and many more partnerships than any other organising committee has raised at this point in the project,” Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell said.
The economic crisis has squeezed private investment for the e1.1 billion Olympic village, whose apartments are to be sold off after the games. The government has already kicked in e105 million from the contingency fund to keep the project going.
“On the private sector money, we are still in discussion with the banks and investors and we remain confident that we will be able to do a deal this year,” Olympic Delivery Authority chairman John Armitt said. “In the meantime, we will be releasing funds within the budget to make sure that we stay on track.”
MIA Olympic Special – What’s On
Tomorrow on TVM at 5.15pm and on E22 at 7pm; Thursday 22 January on E22 at 10am (RPT), Friday 23 January on TVM at 10am (RPT) and Saturday 24 January on E22 at 3pm (RPT) will feature the following:
Featured Event – Athletics Seminar
and Kids Meeting
The Malta Amateur Athletic Association held the Throws Seminar during the past weekend. On Friday there was the first session, the theoretical one at the offices of the Association. On the following day, the practical session was held with UK and British athlete Jenny Scott carried demonstrations on the throws whereas Paul Wilson instructed the coaches and throws athletes alike. In the afternoon there was the first session of the Kids Club reserved for children between 5 and 13 years of age.
Highlighted Events – Karate/Rugby/Archery
• Karate is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands from indigenous fighting methods and Chinese kenp. It is primarily a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands and ridge-hands. Grappling, locks, restraints, throws, and vital point strikes are taught in some styles.A karate practitioner is called a karateka. Locally over the past weekend a Training Camp was held at the Fgura Karate Club.
• Rugby is a free-flowing game that features a combination of strength, speed and strategy to move a ball into an opponents territory. Rugby is a full-contact sport yet players wear little-or no protective gear. Rugby evolved from football and is often called the ‘game played in heaven’. The cameras of MIA Olympic Magazine visited the Marsa Grounds in order to cover the Cisk League which is now well underway.
• Archery is the practice of using a bow that is drawn by hand and held, free of any mechanical device, to shoot arrows. Archery has historically been used in hunting and combat and has become a precision sport. The Malta Archery Association held an Indoor Shooting Competition, Double 18, at Pembroke.
MOC Section – Club Mark
Clubmark is an accreditation scheme for high quality junior sports clubs. It is managed by the Youth Directorate of the MOC under the direction of Envic Galea and sets the standard for all high quality sports clubs in Malta. Clubmark stands for higher standards of safety, fairness, coaching and management. That way the nation’s sports club infrastructure will be safer, stronger and more successful. This means that a club that has been awarded Clubmark has achieved minimum operating standards in safeguarding and protecting children, quality coaching, equal opportunities and good management. In essence, a club that qualifies for Clubmark is a well-run club which is ACTIVE and ACCESSIBLE. This means that getting the best out of young people and giving everyone a sporting chance.
Clubmark provides recognition for high quality clubs. It is important that all clubs should strive to this quality standard. Clubmark is an important club development tool and provides a solid foundation for all clubs wishing to establish a youth structure.