The finalists of the athletes of the year awards were announced yesterday in a press conference addressed by members of the Sportswriters’ Association in conjunction with the Ministry of Education and Youth, and the Malta Sports Council.

This is the 44th edition of the awards.

Charles Camenzuli, president of the Sportswriters Association, said that the same selection method applied in the last three years was adopted, with athletes and officials awarded points related to their sporting achievements.

He said that the 10 athletes in each category will be shortlisted to five finalists in each category on January 15 when all finalists will be awarded a certificate.

In that meeting, the minister of education Louis Galea will deliver the traditional Policy Speech.

Mario Meli, chairman of the selection board, outlined the policies of the selection criteria and announced the finalists in each category. In the teams category there are 11 finalists because two teams ended up with the same number of points.

Franco Azzopardi, chairman of the Maltese Sports Council, said that although these awards are now well established, this will be the first time they are held after the Sports Law was introduced.

Charlo Bonnici, on behalf of the Education Minister, said that it is the priority of the ministry to promote smaller sports associations, even by using the TV Education Channel 22.

At the end of the press conference which was introduced by Stephen Calleja, secretary general of the Sportswriters Association, Mr Camenzuli announced a list of activities that will mark the 35th anniversary from the foundation of the Sportswriters Association.

These will include a course in sport journalism in March, followed by a photographic exhibition consisting of a collection of 25 photos from L’Equipe. In December 2005 the AIPS Bureau will be held in Malta.

The final ceremony of the awards will be held on Saturday 29 January at SAS Radisson Bay Point, and the ceremony will be televised on Net TV.