The fifth edition of the MOC Sports Awards, Malta’s premier event that gives recognition to Maltese athletes who have excelled at international level is drawing near. This year it is being held on 12 December and is being screened on the TV channel Education 22 that same day.

The Malta Olympic Committee yesterday hosted a presentation ceremony where all nominees for these Awards received a certificate acknowledging their nomination.

During this presentation which took place at the MOC headquarters, 50 athletes coming from a diversity of sports practised in Malta including Bocci, Horse Racing, Judo, Lawn Bowls, Pool, Sailing, Shooting, Table Football, Table Tennis, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling and Triathlon received their nominee diploma presented by the MOC President Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco and Pippo Psaila, Chairman MOC Sports Awards Organising Committee.

Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco, MOC President, spoke about the Awards and the Hall of Fame.

He spoke highly of all those who have been inducted into the Hall of Fame already and said this year, another small number (between six and eight) will be inducted as well. The MOC therefore continues to recognise the feats of the past of those athletes, officials or journalists – those who have been connected with sport in some way or another. The Hall of Fame allows the MOC to commemorate these individuals for their dedication and effort.

He highlighted that athletes coming from a diversity of sporting disciplines have shown that they too can achieve success at international competitions despite Malta’s limitations.

Maltese athletes through sheer determination, dedication and sacrifice can inspire and show Maltese Society how important practising sport is. He also said that the Awards ceremony has established itself as a prestigious event in the sporting calendar and eagerly awaited by all. Expectations are high as the general public and the local sporting world will be wondering who will be recognised by the Malta Olympic Committee adjudicating board for outstanding sporting achievement for 2006. No one yet knows (except the members of the Board) who will receive either a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze award. The announcements be made during the ceremony on 12 December.

Near the end of his speech, Mr Justice Farrugia Sacco made an appeal to all those who were not nominated this year. “Those who failed this year should take this as a lesson. It should help them become more determined to be successful next year,” he said.

Pippo Psaila, Chairman, Organising Committee, said the 12 December ceremony is being held at the Dolmen Resort Hotel, compered by well-known TV presenters John Demanuele and Graziella Attard Previ; Entertainment for the 2006 MOC Sports Awards will be provided by the Big Band Brothers.

Psaila explained the aim behind the Awards. He said only those athletes whose performance was of a top level in the international scene, like a European Championship or a World Cup or Games of a certain standard as the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, are eligible to win one of the Awards. The aim was to recognise the performance of an athlete and reward that individual for the efforts and sacrifices he/she would have gone through in the months leading to the event. “That performance has to leave an echo in the international field of sport,” he said.

Psaila said the MOC wanted to reward all those athletes who sacrifice most of their spare time and dedicate it to the sport they love so much. “Sometimes they ignore part-time jobs in favour of dedicating their efforts to sport,” he said. Psaila said the MOC – and the whole country – have to recognise such feats.

He added that last year was a clear example of how Maltese sport and local sportsmen had achieved certain levels which were undreamt of in previous years. Yet he did not make any mention as to whether there would be a Platinum Award – the top Award – this year. “That will be made known on 12 December,” he said, when asked by a member of the press.

Psaila added that Matthew Asciak was being nominated for his performance in the Davis Cup where he represented Malta in this team event. “He is still Under 18, but in these Awards there is no place for a youth category,” he explained. It is the first time in the five-year history of the Awards that an under age athlete has been nominated.

He also stated that the MOC was very happy with the results achieved by its athletes this year, not only in the Olympic disciplines. “There has been an overall improvement. If only we had more financial means, I am sure we would have done much better. Unfortunately, this country still suffers from a poor sporting culture because of which a number of sportsmen even fork out money from their own pockets to represent their country in international events abroad,” he said.

Psaila added that he wanted to make it clear that not all those who were originally nominated had made it to this list. “There are certain criteria which have to be followed strictly. We could not accept some of them,” he said.

The MOC Sports Awards is a gathering of the highest achievers in sport, as well as senior figures from within sporting organisations, Ministers and Government officials. Through this event the MOC is contributing to help generate awareness and better following for our athletes. These Awards are not just about acknowledging past greatness, but also, and more fundamentally, as an investment in our athletes and for the furtherance of sports in Malta.

Athletes nominated for the Awards

The following have been nominated for this year’s awards:

Bocci: Stefan Farrugia, Arthur Darmanin, Joseph Demanuele, David Farrugia

Horse Racing: Charles Camilleri

Judo: Marcon Bezzina

Lawn Bowls: Doubles - Leonard Callus and Francis Vella

Lawn Bowls: Triples - Joseph Attard, Victor Brincat, Alfred Vella

Pool: Duncan Bezzina

Pool: Team - Duncan Bezzina, Ivan Rizzo, Antoine Cuschieri, Chris Mills, Adrian Camilleri, Mario Cutajar, Clint Azzopardi, Marcel Micallef, Jesmond Schembri, Stanley Chircop.

Sailing: Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006 Artie Crew; Skippers - Lee Satariano /Sebastian Ripard , Crew - Matthew Gusman, Anthony Demajo, Mark Schranz, Kurt Casapinta, Isaac Borg, Thomas Ripard.

Sailing: Rolex Middle Sea Race 2006 Elusive Crew; Skipper - Arthur Podesta, Crew: Maya Podesta, Christoph Podesta, Aaron Podesta, Yasmin Degiorgio, Mark Vella, Sonke Bruhms, Benji Borg, Paul Apap Bologna

Shooting (Trap): Rebecca Madyson

Shooting (Double Trap): William Chetcuti

Shooting (Double Trap Pairs): William Chetcuti and Rodney Micallef

Table Football: Massimo Cremona

Table Tennis: Edward Baldacchino and Simon Gerada

Tennis: Matthew Asciak

Tenpin Bowling: Lorraine Casha

Tenpin Bowling: Ray Falzon Reale

Tenpin Bowling: Brian Farrugia

Triathlon: Mark Zammit

Triathlon: Danica Spiteri