Sports tourism is one phrase which has become very common locally, especially when an international event is held in Malta.

Such events, whether it is a sports event, a sports conference, seminar or whatever, always brings to Malta a fair number of people which we call tourists. And let me be clear. Not all of them may be those tourists who spend a lot of money especially the athletes who come over to practise their sport apart from taking a look at the splendour of these islands. But there are many – in my opinion, a big slice of those who come over – who spend a lot, thus contributing towards the island’s economy in no small measure.

Of course, I am referring to people involved in the maritime sector, that is, powerboats and the Rolex Middle Sea Race. There are also the football teams who come over not only in a large group whether it is a club or a national team, but also accompanied by a large number of fans.

For example, some time ago, we had Norway here among us who brought over several hundreds for their match against Malta. This week we know that Sweden will be bringing around 800 visitors to these islands on the occasion of the Malta-Sweden World Cup qualifier. These fans do not just come over for the match itself. They spend at lkeast three nights enjoying the sun, sea and the local ‘festa’ atmosphere.

The MFA has also announced that it will be organising UEFA’s Executive Committee meeting next January. And although a meeting like this does not involve a big number of people, its benefits are elsewhere. In fact, such a meeting is covered by the worldwide press, not only that of Europe. And that means extra and free publicity for Malta.

Nowadays it has also become common practice for associations like FISEC, waterpolo, tennis athletics, shooting and archery, to mention just a few, who are winning bids to stage international events in Malta through their own European governing bodies.

Others like cricket, rugby, table-tennis, judo and martial arts have also contributed in no small measure towards establishing their sport locally in such a way as to attract a fairly large number of visitors to play their favourite sport in our very favourable climatic conditions.

All this goes on to show how important sport is in generating tourism of a certain kind.

In this sense I was more than glad to read Clyde Puli’s article in last Sunday’s edition where he said his Parliamentary Secretariat expected to generate 22,000 bed nights this year through sports-connected events.

With the 2010 budget in mind, I appeal to Mr Puli to insist on the government to be more generous with sport as, after all, other European small countries do, such as Cyprus, Monaco, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

We are all aware that we have to attract our youngsters to sport, first and foremost. ‘Catch them young’ is the phrase I learned from an English colleague when I was still a young sports journalist.

By investing more in sport we will certainly be attracting a good number of our youngsters to a healthier way of life. I am sure that every association needs much more funds than those available at present to be able to administer their sport in a better way than it is now.

If those funds are provided, through the Maltese Council for Sport and the Maltese Olympic Committee, I am sure we will also see the standards of our sportsmen and sportswomen increase considerably. We must all be aware that our athletes are gifted technically and some also physically, though not all. But I repeat that every association lacks the necessary funds to reach their desired targets.

The MFA and its leagues

The suspension of the MFA Premier League till after the next weekend, has been on the lips of everyone throughout the past few days.

It was the Council of the association which took the decision after a six-hour meeting which dealt mainly with the corruption case which led to Vittoriosa Stars’ demotion to the first division.

On that famous Monday night, the Council also decided to turn down a proposal by the Executive to have the Premier League played by nine teams and eventually by eight (if ever Marsaxlokk were also to be demoted after their case is over). The clubs’ delegates in the Council decided that the Premier League and the First Division leagues should be played with ten teams in each division. Msida therefore became favourites to replace Vittoriosa in the Premier and Hamrun would be expected to be given the same treatment, provided that Marsaxlokk were also found guilty and demoted.

So far so good.

Then, during the week, I had the occasion to attend a news conference where the issue was brought up again and I was completely surprised to hear Dr Joe Mifsud, the MFA President, say that he had no answer to one of my questions and that ‘we have to wait and see (what happens)’

I had asked Dr Mifsud: If Vittoriosa Stars won their appeal against the verdict imposed by the Board To Investigate Corrupt Practices and were re-instated to the Premier League, what would happen then?

I was surprised because I thought that the MFA rules would have had a specific clause for such eventualities. However, it was not the case. Otherwise, I am sure Dr Mifsud would have given the answer.

One other thing which I did not fathom in this issue was the fact that nobody seemed to know that the decisions in such investigations (such as the relegation of Vittoriosa Stars) was the sole responsibility of the Board to Investigate Corrupt Practices and no one else, not Dr Joe Mifsud, nor the Executive Committee and neither The MFA Council.

It would have been more practical for the association to have made it known publicly before the verdict was issued to avoid all the unnecessary comments from everyone, especially the man in the street.

And on another issue related to the alleged corruption cases, one cannot also not forget that the same Board is still investigating two cases involving the second and third divisions. A month or so from now, these two leagues are set to start, but no decision is yet in sight. I sincerely hope that there will be no delays as was the case with the Premier League cases.

Henry Brincat

Sports Editor

[email protected]