Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli, responsible for Sport, yesterday reviewed sport in 2010 and revealed government’s plans for this year.

Addressing journalists attending his no customary ‘policy’ speech, he said the past year must be considered successful from several aspects, adding that not only were successes achieved by our athletes on the field of play, but there were also other factors such as important meetings held in Malta, including the UEFA Executive Committee, the 31st seminar of the European Olympic Committee and the IOC Olympic Solidarity Forum, as well as the 84th Assembly of the European Rugby Association and the Powerboats Congress (UIM).

He also added the fact that some local administrators had been appointed to work on several European committees also contributed to the success of the past year. These included Magistrate Tonio Mizzi and Frank Camilleri (basketball), Joe Caruana Curran, vice chairman of the European Billiards and Snooker Association and Silvio Catania, president of the ITFSA.

Among the successes on the field of play, Puli mentioned the good results of the table-football team (won the world championship), horse-racing (won a Mediterranean Championship), triathlon (won the competition for Small European Nations), Basketball (won the women’s European Division C) and the International Defensive Pistol European Championship.

Puli said the government’s intention had been to create a sporting culture among the Maltese and he believes that this could be achieved through the values of sport where, among others, youngsters are helped to build their character in a physically and mentally strong society.

Through the Maltese Council for Sport, which was strengthened by making it a regulatory authority, programmes for all have been held, facilities have been increased and those existent improved upon while the private sector is being offered incentives to invest more in sport.

In the 2011 budget, government’s plans for sport are clear. Puli said that Sports Tourism will remain one of the strongest tourism niches through the arrival of teams and individuals for training camps, seminars and competitions.

He also said that the government was prepared to explore partnerships with the private sector so that the associations will become less dependent on Government funds.

The government, said Puli, will maintain its Sports Tourism Scheme, whereby associations are helped according to the bed nights they manage to attract. In 2009, the government voted the sum of €100,000. Then 35 activities were held in which 22 associations took part, attracting 22,000 bednights. Last year, the sum was increased to €250,000. There were 83 activities by 36 associations and 40,700 bednights. All this brought the sum of €2.2 million into Malta’s coffers.

Puli said the government has again voted the same amount as last year for the current year.

He also said that a sum of €50,000 had been voted for Gozo last year and repeated this year.

Puli said the government is intent on having sports programmes for all, in schools, at home, even for elderly people, and in different localities.

There will be various programmes in schools, before during and after school hours. Moreover, the school facilities are now being made use of by several associations or clubs some of whom are investing money for their own players’ benefit, but also for the benefit of the students.

Apart from these, the KMS also intends to stage eight other programmes and it hopes to see more Local Councils cooperating in the organisation of the events. So far, it is known that 30 Local Councils have applied to stage 93 different sports programmes in their localities. In this sector, government has voted the sum of €120,000.

Puli also said he was proud that an agreement had also been reached whereby the KMS and the Ghaqda Gurnalisti Sports (Sportswriters Association) now organise the SportMalta Awards jointly. He said this was a strong message in favour of a true sporting culture.

The Parliamentary Secretary went on to explain that government had spent a lot on maintenance of the existing facilities at Cottonera and Tal-Qroqq, among others.

He said he had been disappointed because the Kirkop complex had not yet opened its doors as promised. He said he was now hopeful that the complex will open in the next few months after complications in the tenders’ process had been finally resolved.

He said the facilities at Marsa will see an extended golf course, the inauguration of an equestrianism (including show jumping) sector and more multi-purpose pitches. He also made a mention of the recently inaugurated outdoor gym and fitness centre at Ta’ Qali at a cost of €150,000, which has been labelled as a great success.

Puli said that the government, with the help of the MFA, had also invested €2 million in the construction of 16 synthetic surface pitches around the island and this is for the use of around 3,000 boys and girls attending the football nurseries.

He added that in 2011, the government’s main plans, apart from the Kirkop complex, will be the construction of two pools, one in Gozo and the other at Birzebbuga (replacing the old one).

He also referred to the White Rocks Complex saying that negotiations are in an advanced stage, but admitted: “It can be done, but it may not. The negotiations on this state-of-the-art project are at a delicate stage and at present, I cannot divulge any more details. I am hopeful that all problems will be solved for the benefit of about 40 associations who will then be able to make use of the facilities.”

Puli also referred to the assistance to sports associations, foremost among which is the Maltese Olympic Committee. He confirmed that the MOC is being given a packet of €439,391 in financial, technical and other assistance. This sum includes the figure of €120,000 which has been increased from the usual €70,000, for the needs of the Olympic Committee in view of the Games of the European Small States to be held in Liechtenstein next summer.

Puli said the government will maintain its stance on the KMS Schemes which last year amounted to €3.3 million. These included grants and other help from, among others, the Good Causes Fund, Ministry for Tourism, Ministry for Education, Ministry for the Resources, the 20/20 Scheme and paid leave for government employees who take part in international competitions as well as retaining the paying of wages of employees assigned with the various associations or entities.

He said the government will also be offering another scheme whereby employees in the Private Sector will be allowed to work a reduced number of hours per week.

Finally he also expressed his satisfaction that a great number of associations and entities had decided to register with the KMS. Until last year, there were 295 such entities registered, but there were 44 others on the waiting list, to be approved.

Finally he thanked the Maltese Council for Sport and Joe Cassar, for his valued work since joining it.