Minister for Sports Clifton Grima on Saturday inaugurated a project for the development and renovation of the Matthew Micallef St John Athletics Stadium in Marsa, a project that cost the taxpayer €2.5 million.

The project started a year ago and was completed in record time, Grima announced.

“This investment has led to the country now having top-level athletics track so that Maltese athletes can train and practice their favourite sport in a professional manner,” Grima said.

The complete project includes building new structures and modernizing others, resurfacing the 400-meter track and the 100-meter warm up track, new fencing around the entire facility, a new main stand which includes changing rooms, lecture rooms, photo finish room, stores and clinics, two halls for gym sessions, renovation of the pole vault, high jump, long jump and throws area, and general beautification of the whole facility.

The stadium will also welcome athletes who will be in Malta for the Small Countries Games, which will start towards the end of next May, Grima announced.

Grima said the projects currently underway in the sports infrastructure is raising the standards of these facilities to international levels. Both athletes and spectators will have an environment of the best quality, he said.

The project will also be able to host international competitions, strengthening sports tourism. The project goes hand in hand with the Sports Strategy which includes sports infrastructure as an important pillar, Grima said.

Grima said children will now have a facility which helps them practice their sport on a professional level, giving them a future as athletes and possibilities to achieve results on international level.

Through the investment, the Marsa Sports Complex will be turning into an international level sports hub with several facilities for different sports disciplines.

The renovation work was done by Sport Malta. CEO of Sport Malta Mark Cutajar said that the plan is to continue investing in sports facilities accessible to all, from people who do basic training to professional athletes.