The Maltese Council for Sport along with the Ministry of Tourism have established a new scheme to help support the development of sports tourism in Malta and Gozo by funding international sports events by local sport NGOs.
The Maltese Kendo Federation forms part of the scheme and a ceremony is being held on 25 September at the Gozo Sports Complex from 11.45am.
This will herald the start of the seminar being held locally.
The President, Mr. K. Vella MP, The Parliamentary Secretaries for Youth and Sports Dr. C. Puli, for Tourism Dr M. Demarco and the Minister of Gozo Mrs G. Debono, will be attending the opening ceremony.
At the official opening ceremony, one will have the opportunity to meet the top Japanese sensei, and also witness a Japanese tea ceremony, a Japanese swordsmanship demonstration, a demonstration of the Traditional Sport of Japan – Kendo.
An official letter sent by the Japanese Consulate based in Rome as a letter of support will be read out.
This will be the 24th edition of the seminar led by the famous Kendo master Masatake Sumi 8th Dan Hanshi, which the Maltese Kendo Federation has been given the opportunity to host. Along with Sumi Sensei, another three 8th Dan instructors and nine 7th Dan instructors will be present.
Masatake Sumi is a world leading instructor and his visit to our islands has attracted over 70 participants from 18 different countries including Japan, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Belgium and Spain.
The Malta Kendo Federation is doing its best to represent Malta in the best possible way at this event as Kendo is very important within Japanese culture and will foster better relations with Japan not only on a sporting, socio-economic and touristic level, but also in helping to bolster Malta’s standing with the 17 other countries attending this important seminar on the European Kendo calendar.
The seminar will also be opening new doors for the Maltese Kendo Federation with the possibility to host both the European Kendo Cub and the World Kendo Cub championships in the next five years.