Franco Azzopardi has tendered his resignation from the Malta Sports Council (Kunsill Malti ghall-iSport - KMS) of which he has been chairman for the past five years.

Mr Azzopardi first joined the KMS board in 1998 and, following the enactment of the Sport Act in 2003, when the KMS was set up as an independent agency, he was appointed deputy chairman. At the time Jesmond Mugliett was Parliamentary Secretary for Sports.

Following the resignation of the chairman, Michael Aquilina, Mr Azzopardi was appointed chairman. He was reconfirmed following the appointment of Louis Galea as Education Minister, responsible for Sport, in 2004.

Taking inspiration from success stories in the corporate world and in similar UK government agencies, Mr Azzopardi set about restructuring the functioning of the KMS.

Apart from being responsible for major complexes like the National Pool, the Marsa Sports Grounds and the Cottonera Sports Complex, KMS was also responsible for relations with the different government departments and entities, and the major sports associations and clubs, including the Maltese Olympic Committee (MOC).

"The early years were difficult since the MOC was adapting to the change in legislation, like all other sports associations," Mr Azzopardi said.

The philosophy of the KMS has revolved around three areas: the transformation of sport from a pastime to an industry; the transformation of the public perception of what government's contribution to sport really is; and the importance of creating knowledgeable, capable sports administrators at all levels in the local associations and clubs.

A two-pronged strategy was devised to increase the level of participation in physical activity and also to produce more elite athletes. A strong level of sport administrators need to be educated to enable the broadening of the number of participants in sports at the grass roots level. An alliance was forged with the Institute for PE and Sport at the University of Malta for the provision of certificates, diplomas and degrees in coaching.

One interesting and innovative assistance scheme that the KMS Board launched under Mr Azzopardi's leadership incentivised associations and clubs to organise local international events so as to attract sports tourism.