This week, for the most part, this page is dedicated to the associations which, by virtue of their chosen athletes, represented Malta in the Mediterranean Friendship tournament 2007, held in Palermo and Modica, Sicily. The Maltese Olympic Committee took part in this event which has been somewhat revived after a considerable number of years. Maltese athletes took part in ten disciplines, most of which are considered non-Olympic sports. These were badminton, dance sport, fencing, golf, karate, pool, snooker, table-soccer, triathlon and weightlifting. MOC president Mr Justice Lino Farrugia Sacco hailed the results as “another success for Maltese sports’. They came back with 12 gold medals, four silver and one bronze, giving a very good impression in most, if not all, these disciplines. The gold medals were won by dance sport (2), fencing (2), karate (3), golf, pool, snooker, table-football and triathlon. The silver medals were obtained in badminton (2) and triathlon (2) while the bronze medal was won in the triathlon event. Above picture, left, shows the whole contingent of around 60 athletes and officials at the Malta International Airport, prior to their departure for Sicily. The other pictures depict some of our athletes in action during the tournament in Sicily

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Friday, 30 November on E22 at 9pm and Sunday, 2 December on E22 at 10am (RPT), while on TVM at 5.25pm and Monday, 3 December on E22 at 2.30pm (RPT) the following will be shown:

Featured Event – Mediterranean Friendship Tournament Malta – Sicily

The Mediterranean Friendship Tournament Malta – Sicily, was held on this Italian island. A total of 32 athletes took part in these Games in no fewer than 10 disciplines, namely; Badminton, Dance sport, Fencing, Golf, Karate, Pool, Snooker, Table Soccer, Triathlon and also Weightlifting. This tournament is held specifically for athletes of federations who normally do not represent Malta in Olympic sports events. The tournament was, for the most part held in Palermo, with just pool and snooker taking place in Modica. A crew from MIA Olympic Magazine travelled to Sicily to report what was going on during these games.

This week we shall see the second part of the feature.

Highlighted event –

The hall of fame

Individuals who have greatly contributed to Maltese Sport should not be forgotten. We should be proud of people who have given so much to Maltese sport. Thus the Maltese Olympic Committee, back in December 2003, felt that it was of the utmost importance to create a Hall of Fame in order to pay tribute to, and keep alive, the memory of such individuals. It is believed that such a Hall of Fame would not only revive those precious moments through which the passion and interest for the Olympic Movement and its universal ideals flourish, but also inspire for the young, by showing how through example, dedication, sacrifice and perseverance, sport can achieve success.

Olympic Archive section

In this interesting Section, the MIA Olympic Special takes us down memory lane and relives the interesting moments of the previous Olympic Games as a build up to the Beijing 2008 Games.

Schedules are available every week on www.nocmalta.org and on The Malta Independent every Tuesday, produced in collaboration with E22.