A new PN government will give special focus to athletes and the sports sector, to ensure that Malta becomes a professional sports hub, PN candidate Graham Bencini said during a press conference on Sunday.

The PN aims to transform the sports sector into a new economic sector, while also improving sports tourism in Malta by creating a specialised Ministry for sports, Bencini said.

A new campus dedicated to sports innovation will also be built, to provide sports training and sciences where athletes can improve their skills, Bencini remarked. The PN pledged to build a new futsal arena to give more opportunities for futsal to grow in the country.

The building of the Ħal Far racetrack will also commence immediately if PN is elected for government, he said. The PN will also provide fiscal support for the sports sector, with a tax reduction to 5% for the first €80,000 income on sports activities. Tax credits of up to 50% will be given to companies who sponsor sports clubs or any other sports association, Bencini said.

Youths will also be given €500 vouchers so that they can travel for sports activities, he said.

PN candidate Chris Micallef said that the proposals the PN is presenting with regards to sports works towards Malta becoming a recognized hub for sports.

A PN government will give an additional allocation of €2 million, which will be added to the €5 million the government has already promised for the Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), which will be held in Malta in 2023, Micallef said.

Micallef added that the PN will incentivize Maltese athletes to obtain top results in competitions abroad.