When it comes to sport, 2011 has definitely been a successful year. The success of our athletes in winning medals was complemented by successful policy achievements.
William Chetcuti won the long-awaited World Championship title in Double Trap Shooting in Beijing. Aaron Ciantar won the World Championship in power boating in Key West in the US, thus repeating his success in Europe. Pool player Clayton Attard became European champion and the crew of the Maltese boat Artie won the Rolex Middle Sea Race. Rodmar Pulis took a silver and a bronze in the Commonwealth Championships held in South Africa, while bowler Neil Sullivan won silver in the Commonwealth Championships. Simon Giordmaina, on his bike, broke another world record as did Thomas Cremona and swimmer Keith Bartolo. Massimo Cremona also had another outstanding year in table football.
The 14th Games for Small States of Europe, held in Liechtenstein, also provided us with some very good results: 29 medals, of which eight were gold, 16 national records and a number of personal bests, indicating an overall improvement. And impressive results were not reserved solely for the GSSE. Our participation in the Special Olympics World Games that were held in Athens with 7,000 athletes from 185 countries taking part, added to our list of successes away from home as our athletes brought us a haul of 46 medals: 15 gold, 17 silver and 14 bronze.
All these athletes, and a long list of others, wore the national colours with dignity and pride, sometimes defying the law of averages. I, for one, remain impressed by their enthusiasm and efforts. Nothing just happens; these are the result of commitment, hard work and considerable sacrifice.
Supporting the sporting
community to succeed
Over the last year, the government has stepped up its efforts to support the sporting community on its road to achievement. During 2011 we extended the 2009 20/20 sports training scheme for public sector employees to include athletes employed in the private sector. We have introduced special leave with pay for athletes and officials participating in international competitions held both abroad and locally. We have also launched a sports unit for national athletes with the Armed Forces of Malta. The new recruits will have up to 40 hours a week of active sports preparation.
The School of Sport will also be launched in 2012 at the new Kirkop Sports Complex. As announced in the budget speech, we will also be introducing sports scholarships for sports professionals to further enhance their sporting career and we will continue to finance university courses to increase the number of qualified coaches and instructors.
During this legislature we have spent millions on top class facilities and have not only built a new sports complex in Kirkop but have also equipped more of our schools with high level sports facilities. Since 2008, we have installed no fewer than 33 top quality artificial grass surfaces to be also made available to local clubs through a project that is organised in collaboration with the Malta Football Association. Other projects are in the pipeline with other associations, mainly the Motorsport Federation, the Basketball Association and the Malta Rugby Football Union.
Over the years, this should provide Malta with better trained athletes and, hopefully, better results.
SportMalta Awards:
L-Għazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali
This year’s achievements have already been celebrated at presentation nights organised by the respective federations and associations and they will once again be celebrated big-time come January, during the SportMalta Awards – L-Għazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali – jointly organised by the Malta Sports Authority and the Journalists Association.
Hopefully the excellent results, the memories and the wonderful celebrations will serve as an inspiration for the future of sport in Malta. Young athletes such as those nominated for this year’s Young Athlete Award – namely Andrea Agius (swimming), Kirsty Caruana (gymnastics), Gianluca Dingli (karting), Nicole Gatt (weight-lifting and athletics), Nicola Muscat (swimming), Colette Sultana (squash) and Nathan Lee Xuereb (shooting) – are a determined and ambitious crop that will hopefully keep improving our national success in the years to come.
The Season’s Greetings to all.
Clyde Puli is Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport