Special Olympics Malta yesterday named 38 athletes to represent Malta at the World Summer Games (Special Olympics) being held in Athens between 25 June and 4 July.
Anna Calleja, national director, said the games represent the highest level of sporting competition for such athletes in the world.
She said that around 7,500 athletes from all over the world are expected to take part in this year’s Games.
The Maltese athletes will be accompanied by a delegation of coaches, parents and helpers. This will also include three Vodafone employees, that is, Desiree Bone, Alistair Vella Stiles and Roberta Pace, who will be giving their time and support on a voluntary basis.
Ms Calleja said she was very proud of all the athletes who had trained very hard, showing great motivation, discipline and tremendous skill.
She thanked Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Clyde Puli and main sponsor Vodafone Foundation, the Maltese Council for Sport, Megaline, the Good Causes Fund and the Voices Foundation, for their continued support.
Mr Puli and Mr Tonio Fenech, Minister of Finance, Economy and Investment, both wished the athletes good luck in their forthcoming adventure. They both praised the athletes, the coaches and all those who had helped during the training sessions in preparation for these Games.
The contingent
The Maltese contingent will comprise the following officials and athletes:
Aquatics team
Head coach – Melanie Azzopardi
Assistants – Maria Schembri and Albert Gruppetta
Swimmers – Alexia Wetz, Mathias Attard, Mark Zammit Cutajar, Shanaia Xuereb, Nathaniel Grasso, Jean Bernard Cachia, Charmaine Mifsud, John Paul Fenech.
Athletics team
Head coach – Grace Micallef
Technical coach – Alistair Vella Stiles
Assistants to head coach – Maria Zammit and Roberta Pace
Athletes – Ishmael Falzon, Claudio Dalli, Dylan Marston, Lucas Dalli, Sarah Caruana, Naomi Axisa, Jessica Dalli, Barbara Borg
Bocce team
Head coach – Odette Chetcuti
Athletes – Yowanna Vassallo, Mark Agius
Bowling team
Head coach – Giancarlo Tolu
Assistant coach – Anna Farrugia
Players – Philip Gruppetta, Bjorn Tabone, Albert Borg, Ben Grech, Kyle Burke, Maria Spiteri, Marika Rodgers, Natasha Bianchi
Football team
Head coach – JJ Aquilina
Assistants – Mark Spiteri and Tonio Chetcuti
Players – Rodney Gauci, Antonio Chircop, Michael Calleja, Steven Stivala, Joseph Zarb, James Stivala, Reggie Mangion, Kersten Bonello, Stephen Dimech, Simon Caruana
Gymnastics team
Head coach – Elaine Genovese
Assistant – Mary Gauci
Athletes – Matthew Bugeja, Annemarie Bugeja