Fifty six local sports associations yesterday benefited from a donation by government which amounts to more than euros 500,000. These associations qualified for financial aid by the Maltese Council for Sport.

After yesterday's presentations, the global sum handed out by the government in 2007 amounts to euros1,150,000, of which the Maltese Olympic Committee received euros374,000.

In a short speech, Dr Louis Galea, Minister for Education and also responsible for Sport, said the amount of euros2.5 million had been donated to such associations since the Maltese Council of Sport was set up in 2003.