Marie Therese Zammit, a director on the executive board of the Malta Olympic Committee, recently returned from Lausanne, Switzerland, where she successfully attended the final session of the IX Executive Masters in Sports Organisation Management. This degree is coordinated by Prof. Jean-Loup Chapellet, director of the Swiss Graduate School of Public Administration and delivered by the University Claude Bernard of Lyons, France.
Known as MEMOS, it was founded in 1995 upon the initiative of several Olympic Committees and the European Network of Sport Sciences in Higher Education in several universities and with the financial support of Olympic Solidarity.
The structure of the course provided the 35 participants with the possibility to continue their professional responsibilities, as well as the unique experience to exchange information with their peers who came from a vast range of countries all over the world such as Finland, Brazil, Ghana, Fiji and China. The final presentation of each student was made in the Olympic Museum auditorium.
Her study subject was “Women in Sport Leadership Positions in Malta – Barriers and Solutions”, and involved a study of the scarcity of women in leadership positions in the present structure of local sports associations. Many of the barriers faced by the few women present, as well as those with potential, were identified, found to be very similar to those present internationally, interconnected and mainly a result of the culture present in Maltese society. Even though these positions are all voluntary, a parallel was also identified with the situation of women in the labour market.
Closer collaboration with the National Council of Women and the NCPE, will definitely encourage more equity awareness also in sport. The government should be encouraged to sign the Brighton Declaration (1994), which it has been asked to do for some time now: the Ratification of the Brighton Declaration by MOC President was signed on 24 November 2002. Women with potential need to be identified and a strong network created, with more publicity given to women’s achievements to create role models and personal interaction used as a tool to encourage more women to get involved. The vision and scope of this study is to increase the number of women involved in all echelons of sport, starting at the top, by changing the image of sport in Malta from a man’s domain to one for all.
The MEMOS course is held yearly bringing together people from national Olympic committees and sports organisations from all over the world to work and improve on their management skills for the better organisation of sports. Marie Therese Zammit will be a guest speaker at the forthcoming National seminar: “Women & Leadership in Sport: Barriers and Solutions” organised by the Women in Sport Commission (WIS). This will take place between 27 and 28 October at the Grand Hotel Mercure San Antonio, St Paul’s Bay. At this seminar she will tackle the role of women in leadership positions in sport in Malta and will reveal and discuss her findings from her recent study.
Should you wish to participate at this seminar and would like a copy of the detailed programme, kindly contact the Malta Olympic Committee on tel.: 2133-2801 or [email protected] for more information. The registration fee for the seminar is Lm11 (which includes seminar material, lunch and coffee breaks) and Lm7 for students (limited number of spaces available).
Association news: Federation of Underwater Activities
Simon Ciantar, President FUAM
The Federation of Underwater Activities (FUAM) is one of the leading bodies dealing with scuba diving in Malta. FUAM is a founder member of CMAS, an international body regulating diving standards worldwide. CMAS was the first organisation in the world to be set up with the aim of regulating diving techniques and teaching standards and for the development of adequately trained scuba-diving instructors. In fact, Jacques Ives Cousteau, the renowned explorer and pioneer of underwater research and exploration, considered by many as the father of modern scuba diving, was one of the founder members of CMAS.
The Malta Federation of Underwater Activities is proud to have been involved in this process since its inception. Our federation has in fact been in existence for almost 50 years making it by far the oldest diving body in Malta and one of the first in Europe.
Unlike many other diving bodies which have sprung up over the years, both CMAS and all the national federations which are affiliated to it were and have remained amateur, in the sense that while their diving standards and procedures are among the best in the world, the people working within these organisations do so on a non-profit making basis.
CMAS in fact works with national federations which in turn have only non-profit making clubs as affiliates. Although commercial schools are also affiliates and each federation works in close collaboration with them, these do not have voting rights, nor can they sit on the federation’s committee. This has been a conscious decision by CMAS in order to keep any commercial interests out of the organisation to enable us to concentrate on the needs of the local divers of each country who practice this discipline as a sport rather than a profession.
The primary aim of each national federation is to train instructors, keep existing ones updated with the latest technical developments and teaching methodology, and with the continuous development and improvement of the course syllabus. Rather than having a standardised course syllabus across the world, CMAS gives every federation the freedom to develop its own course syllabus. This, however, has to be approved by CMAS before it can be implemented. The advantage of this method is that each country can make an emphasis on certain aspects of training according to its needs. For example a country in cold climates might decide to include more training on the dangers and procedures to follow when diving in such conditions. Other countries where diving is done in very low visibility might decide, for example, to emphasise more on this aspect etc.
Besides these core activities each federation is free to carry out a number of related activities. Locally, for example, we hold the renowned the Blue Dolphin of Malta. This is an international underwater photographic competition with participants from all over the world.
We have also from time to time carried out scientific research on certain aspects on our underwater environment such as an extensive survey in search of the highly invasive underwater plant, caulerpa taxifolia which after being unintentionally introduced in the north western Mediterranean some years ago, has been spreading unchecked across the Mediterranean with devastating results. We are also currently undergoing a survey of underwater caverns and cave systems around the Maltese islands.
We have also been on the forefront in the conservation effort of our marine environment. This effort has however seen little or no result. We have seen throughout the years and across different administrations, several half-hearted attempts at creating some sort of conservation of the marine environment, but with no real results.
We strongly believe that for any real progress to be made on this front, the administration of any reserve or initiative should be given to people who really care and are dedicated to this cause, such as diving clubs and federations and other environmental NGOs. Furthermore, the necessary funding complete with enforcement powers is also needed.
Only in this way can we ensure some sort of protection for this very important asset belonging to our country. We should be ashamed that out of all the Mediterranean countries including the North African ones, Malta is the only country which does not have at least one well managed Marine park or reserve.
Anyone who would like to contact the Federation of Underwater Activities can do so on 9944-2172.
Athlete Profile: Danica Spiteri
Age: 25 years
Sport: Triathlon/Cycling/Athletics
Club: Greens Cycling Club
Started: Swimming since the age of 12, triathlon since the age of 14, cycling since the age of 20
Job: Graduated in 2004 as a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery, currently specialising in Medicine. Working at St Luke’s Hospital.
Personal Bests
Triathlon
•Olympic Distance (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) 2hrs 14mins
•Sprint Distance (750m swim, 20km bike, 5km run) 1hr 9mins
Athletics
•3,000m: 11min 14 secs (1998)
•800m: 2min 24secs (1997)
•10km (road): 42min 35secs
Cycling
•Winner of all cycling races in 2006
Achievements:
Triathlon
•Junior Triathlete of the year in 1995
•National Triathlon Champion in 1995-1998 and 2006
•Triathlete of the Year in 1996-2000
•Sportsmanship Trophy winner in 2000
•2nd place in Sportswoman of the Year in 1998
•1st U/20 in London Triathlon 1998 (13th overall from over 200 participants)
•Silver in triathlon in the Games of the Small States of Europe 2004
•Gold in triathlon in the Games of Small States of Europe 2006
Cycling
•2006 Road Race and Time Trial National Champion
•2nd Maltese in Tour of Malta 2005
•Winner of all Maltese cycling races held in 2004 and 2006
Athletics
•Silver medal in 3,000m in FISEC Games 1997
Other
Represented Malta at the following Games:
•Athletics: FISEC Games of 1995/96/97
•Triathlon: Turkey, Alanya international Triathlon 2004, 2005, Cyprus, Limassol International Triathlon 2004
•Cycling: Winner of most cycling races held in Malta since 2003
•Attended conference for Fair Play and Tolerance in Sport, Holland, 1995
•Participated in Lifecycle.
MIA Olympic Special – What’s On
Thursday 19th October on TVM at 5pm, Friday 20th October on E22 at 9pm (RPT), Sunday 22nd October on E22 at 10am (RPT) and Monday, 23rd October on E22 at 2.30pm (RPT) will feature the following:
Athlete Profile
William Chetcuti, 21 years old, a world-recognised athlete in Double Trap (Shooting); winner of a number of medals at prestigious international competitions including World Cups, European Championships, Commonwealth Games, Mediterranean Games and the Games of the Small States of Europe. Find out more about William Chetcuti in this interview produced by University communication students Lara Schembri and Daniel Vella.
MOC Youth – Talent Identification Development Programme
The Malta Olympic Committee has a directorate dedicated to Sports for Youth and has developed a programme to direct youth to sport federations who in turn will help the MOC to develop talented athletes. This committee is headed by MOC Director Mr Envic Galea. In this short feature, we learn more about the MOC Youth programme which has been produced by University communication students Louise Caruana Galizia and Mohit Bindra.
Feature Event
Tenpin Bowling – Malta Senior Open 2006 which was sanctioned by the Malta Tenpin Bowling Association and took place from the 11th-15th October at the Eden SuperBowl, St Julian's.
Highlight Events
Athletics – Miniathlon, Rugby International Friendly Overseas RC vs Intelligence Corps (Army development side) and Archery Half-FITA 18 arrows outdoor competition.
Schedule available every week on www.nocmalta.org and on The Malta Independent every Tuesday.
Produced in collaboration with E22 and University of Malta, Centre for Communication & Technologies (CCT)
Video Production Students (Video3 – 2006)
Olympic Charter Excerpt: Fundamental Principles of Olympism
Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education. Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.
The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
The Olympic Movement is the concerted, organised, universal and permanent action, carried out under the supreme authority of the IOC, of all individuals and entities who are inspired by the values of Olympism. It covers the five continents. It reaches its peak with the bringing together of the world’s athlete at the great sports festival, the Olympic Games. Its symbol is five interlaced rings.
The practice of sport is a human right. Every individual must have the possibility of practising sport, without discrimination of any kind and in the Olympic spirit, which requires mutual understanding with a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play. The organisation, administration and management of sport must be controlled by independent sports organisation.
Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement. Belonging to the Olympic Movement requires compliance with the Olympic Charter and recognition by the IOC.
Beijing 2008 Olympic Games News: Olympic commemorative coins to be issued
It was yesterday announced in Beijing that two types of coins to commemorate the 29th Olympic Games will be issued by the People’s Bank of China on 20 September.
The products include a set of two base metal coins with a face value of one yuan each, and a set of six precious metal coins, including two made of 1/3 ounce of gold and four made of one ounce silver each. All these are legal tender in the People’s Republic of China, according to a statement released at a press conference jointly held by the bank and the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG).
On the obverse of the base metal coins, the emblem of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games is engraved, together with the image of its main stadium – the National Stadium and its tracks. Total mintage is limited to 10 million pieces, which will be in circulation concurrently with the current RMB bills and coins of the same denomination.
The obverse of the precious metal coins features the emblem of the Olympics and a pair of traditional Chinese dragons. The gold coins have a face value of 150 yuan and the silver coins of 10 yuan.
The maximum mintage stands at 60,000 and 160,000 for gold and silver coins respectively.
According to an agreement between the People’s Bank and BOCOG, two more sets of coins to commemorate the 29th Olympic Games will be issued in 2007 and 2008.
The numismatic programme has become a tradition of the Olympic Games with the first coin issued in Finland on the occasion of the Helsinki 1952 Games. Since then, the games have seen many coin productions, usually based on themes related to sports or art and culture of the host country.
China has already issued commemorative precious metal coins, pins and gold bars on the theme related to the 29th Olympiad since 2001 when Beijing was awarded the right to host the 2008 Games.
‘Malta u Dinja tal-Hames Crieki’
Next Sunday at 1.05pm on 103FM (RTK), this programme will feature the Malta Weightlifting Association, Bodybuilding National Champion athletes Ralph Decelis and Dr Janet Mifsud who will be a guest speaker at an MOC Women in Sport seminar taking place between 27-28 October 2006.