The second Mediterranean Friendship tournament involving around 150 athletes and officials from Malta and Sicily will get under way this evening with an official Opening Ceremony at the Topaz Hotel in Bugibba.
The first edition had been held in Palermo, Sicily, last November. This Malta event will also coincide with the Maltese Olympic Committee’s 80th anniversary.
In this evening’s Opening Ceremony, golfer Andy Borg will be Malta’s flag bearer, while Anthony Zammit, official (karate), and Danica Spiteri, athlete (triathlon), will be taking the oaths on behalf of the participants. The Maltese Olympic Committee’s flag is being carried by four athletes who have taken part in past Olympic Games, namely, Joanna Agius (archery – Moscow 1980, Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988), Laurie Pace (judo – Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992), Jesmond Giordemaina (wrestling – Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988) and Frans Pace (shooting – Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000).
The Maltese contingent’s Chef de Mission will be Marie Therese Zammit.
This is a festival of sport spread over two days (tomorrow and Saturday) that includes various disciplines who do not form part of the Games for the European Small States of Europe, the Commonwealth Games and the Mediterranean Games.
Disciplines to be contested are badminton, dancesport, fencing, golf, karate, pool, snooker, table-football, triathlon, beach volley, mountain bike and weightlifting. A minimum of two female and two male athletes from both the Maltese and Sicilian sides will be competing.
The venues are the Cottonera Sports Complex, Mtarfa Gym, Royal Malta Golf Club, Naxxar Peace Band Club, Mellieha Bay, Pembroke Track, Pandora Club Zejtun, MCAST Naxxar gym, the Coast Road and the Topaz hotel.
The Maltese althletes taking part are:
Badminton: Joanne Cassar, Catherine Dimech, Kenneth Vella, David Cole.
Cycling (Mountain Bike): Etienne Bonello, Ramon Grech, Marie Claire Aquilina, Stephania Magri.
Dance Sport: Kurt Spiteri, Amanda Amaira, Joseph Bartolo, Marianne Bartolo.
Fencing: Marie Jo Scicluna, Susan Ronald, Norman Martinez, Pierre Bianchi.
Golf: Andy Borg, Nicholas Borg.
Karate: Christopher Rotin, Caroline Bugeja, Joseph Galea, Steven Bugeja.
Pool: Clint Azzopardi, Clayton Attard.
Snooker: Mario Brincat, Duncan Bezzina.
Table-Football: Joseph Mifsud, Derek Conti.
Triathlon: Donatelle Callus, Danica Spiteri, Fabio Spiteri, Keith Galea.
Beach Volley: Alison Borg Hayman, Belinda Milton, Aaron Stivala, Robert Balzan.
Weightlifting: Christian Saliba, Clint Sammut, Gordon Cachia, Shehu Hawnan.