Jean Todt, the president of the International Automobile Federation, will be the guest of honour at the forthcoming Sport Malta Awards to be held on 29 January.

Addressing a news conference yesterday, Pippo Psaila, chairman of the organising committee for the event, said that Todt is a big personality in the world of sport, leaving his mark in the F1 field, especially when he was at Ferrari.

Psaila said the event will see the winners of the awards as the great protagonists. “It is a big honour for them to be rewarded for their efforts in the past year,” he said.

He added that during the week leading to the event, there will be special activities in no fewer than five schools with a special occasion to be held at the Cottonera Sports Complex on 26 January, during which parts of Saturday’s ceremony will be shown as well as a possible surprise for those attending the Complex activity.

Tonio Cini, president of the Malta Motor Sport Federation (MMF) said his federation was honoured to be welcoming to Malta such a great personality from the world of motor sport. “We have been working hard on Todt’s visit since 2009. He will now have the opportunity to see the progress which has been made in motor sport in Malta since 2007.

“There is no doubt that we have had a lot of satisfying results, even abroad. I have now also attended the general assembly of the international federation through which I could make new contacts.

“In fact, in future, we will be announcing details of two technical programmes for officials and young drivers,” he said.

Cini revealed that Todt will be arriving in Malta on 29 January at 12.30pm. Soon after there will be a news conference at the VIP Lounge of the Malta International Airport to be followed by a visit to the Hal Far Drag Racing track.

Then he will be hosted for lunch at the Malta Hilton. “This is the place where local enthusiasts will have a good chance to take photos and meet this great personality. The number is limited and the price is €30. All members of the 18 affiliated clubs are invited, but the offer is also open to anyone interested,” he said.

Cini said it was not easy to convince the boss of world motor racing to come to Malta. “In fact, it was difficult to convince him, but the fact that he has accepted our invitation is another big satisfaction for us all,” he claimed.