The Malta Tourism Authority has signed a three-year agreement with the Malta Olympic Committee whereby the MTA will be supporting the MOC both financially and through other forms of assistance.

Signing the agreement on behalf of the MOC, Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace, Director of Marketing, emphasized that as sporting ambassadors, athletes endeavour to achieve success, not only for themselves, but also for their country.

Events such as the recent Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, the COJI Island Games in Sicily and the forthcoming Games of the Small States of Europe, the European Youth Olympic Festival and the Olympic Games in Beijing serve as a platform to promote Malta.

Maltese athletes mingle with other athletes and promote their home country. The MOC ensures that where possible the athletes are kitted out in national colours with emphasis given to our national identity, with the Maltese cross and Malta put on all the kits thus giving prominence to our team and home country at all times.

Dr Kirill Micallef Stafrace went on to say, that the highest level of recognition and prominence that the MOC and its athletes can offer is that moment when a Maltese athlete is on the podium with the Maltese national anthem being played as the Maltese flag is being raised in front of thousands of spectators and TV viewers.

MTA Executive Chairman, Mr. Romwald Lungaro-Mifsud, confirmed that through this agreement the Malta Tourism Authority will be fulfilling another one of its objectives in generating more awareness for Malta and targeting specifically the international sporting market. The MTA through organizations such as the MOC and its affiliated members will also endeavour to see how Sports Tourism can be developed and how Malta can be put on the map as a sports destination. It is hoped that with MTA’s help, the MOC and its 47 affiliated associations will be able to successfully bid for international sporting events, congress meetings and general assemblies of international sporting organisations to be hosted in Malta.

Mr Lungaro-Mifsud continued by reiterating MTA’s conviction in the potential for sport to attract many more visitors to Malta in the future. For this reason, Sports has been identified as one of the seven segments to be specifically targeted in MTA’s Marketing and Product Development strategies, and is a key component of MTA’s promotional activities.

The agreement covers the three-year period: 2006-2008. Signing took place at the Head Office of the Malta Tourism Authority in Valletta. Also present were Mr. Michael Piscopo (Sport Segment Head – MTA), Ms Shirley Psaila (Sport Manager – MTA) and Ms Sharon Camilleri (Sport Segment Executive – MTA), and Joseph Cassar (Secretary General – MOC) and Susan Ronald (Marketing Executive – MOC).